THE ATENEO Blue Eagles wrapped up the elimination round with a 3-2 victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Booters. The match took place earlier tonight at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
With this win, the Blue and White officially clinch the top spot in the Final Four, holding a total of 28 points in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Men’s Football tournament.
From the opening whistle, Ateneo immediately took the initiative, dominating play in the attacking third. Meanwhile, UST’s defense, anchored by their keeper Jose Miguel Abada, held its ground.
Both sides pressed aggressively in the opening moments, with Atenean defenders Enrico Magno and Marco Salud expertly thwarting UST’s John Mark Garcia just outside the box at the 5th minute. Moments later, midfielder Carlo Bautista attempted to break through with a surging run but was quickly stopped by UST’s disciplined backline.
Throughout the intense first half, veteran keeper Artuz Cezar was a steadying force for Ateneo, confidently handling Golden Booter Jeyrold Obedencio’s attempt in the 7th minute and deflecting a dangerous UST corner in the 15th.
Despite even possession, Ateneo managed to create the more promising chances. In the 12th minute, midfielder Rafael Aljama unleashed a powerful strike, but Abada’s quick reflexes sent the ball off course, leaving Mateo Lacson unable to convert the rebound. A flurry of opportunities for the Blue and White in the 33rd minute kept the pressure on, though the Golden Booter defense held firm.
The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when a UST free kick rebounded to Richard Songalia, who fired a low-driven strike past Cezar to give the Golden Booters a 1-0 lead. The Blue Eagles quickly pushed for an equalizer before halftime, with Lacson’s effort going inches wide and a free kick deflected by UST’s keeper in the 45th minute.
Trailing after the break, Ateneo greeted the second half with renewed determination, re-entering with midfielders Joaquin Collo, Dov Cariño, and Team Captain Leo Maquiling to amplify their offensive efforts.
In the 51st minute, Cariño sent in a dangerous ball that Abada dramatically saved, colliding with Maquiling in the process. Seven minutes later, newly-subbed Ryen Lim showcased his speed, connecting with Cariño who headed the ball into the net for the equalizer, 1-1.
Ateneo’s breakthrough came in the 66th minute when national athlete Cariño skillfully maneuvered past the defenders to capture his brace, giving the Blue Eagles a 2-1 advantage. Just four minutes later, Cezar cleared the ball from danger on the other end of the field, while Maquiling capitalized with a well-placed strike to extend Ateneo’s lead to 3-1.
While the Blue and White’s solid backline deflected multiple attempts from the España-based squad, UST eventually broke through in the 83rd minute, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Despite relentless pressure and missed opportunities on both ends, the Blue Eagles held firm, with Cezar once again stepping out of his box in added time to clear the ball and seal the hard-fought victory.
Reflecting on the challenges of securing their latest victory, Coach JP Merida shared his insights into the team’s strategy and preparation heading into the next phase of the competition.
“For the coaches talaga, kung paano namin kukunin yung win, it’s very stressful for us kasi we need to change the approach sa players,” the veteran tactician said.
Meanwhile, for the current top goal scorer and assist leader in the UAAP, Cariño noted the importance of this win as the Blue Eagles are set to face the same semifinal foe they did back in Season 85.
“I’m confident in our team and I know that we’ll be able to play well and pull through. [This win] means a lot for our confidence heading into the semis, because we know we can do it, so it’s just a matter of doing it again and playing better next time,” he shared.
The top-seeded Blue Eagles will run it back against the same opponent in the semifinals in hopes of asserting their mastery over the fourth-seeded Golden Booters. As of writing, the league has yet to officially announce the schedule and venue for the postseason match.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (3): Cezar (GK), Santilices, Salud, M. Roxas, Matugas, F. Roxas, Magno, Lacson, Bautista, Arias, Aljama
UST (2): Abada (GK), Alegre, Belluga, Songalia, Obedencio, Tabar, Baito, Vercide, Lingatong, Garcia, Pepito
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 28 (+21)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 26 (+22)
- FEU Tamaraws – 24 (+21)
- UST Golden Booters – 14 (-6)
- DLSU Green Booters – 10 (-18)
- UE Red Warriors – 9 (-16)
- AdU Soaring Falcons – 9 (-24)
