A SECOND-HALF barrage from the Ateneo Men’s Football team punctuated a convincing 5-0 victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Football Tournament, on Thursday, March 7, at the Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman football field. Besides earning their first victory amidst a rough start to their campaign, the Blue Eagles exacted revenge for last season’s semi-final defeat.

The talismanic Jarvey Gayoso led the way for a rampant Blue Eagle side, netting his first two goals of the season on either side of half-time. Team Captain Julian Roxas tucked home in the second half to put the game out of reach before Rupert Baña’s volley and Luca Alleje’s first goal for the Blue and White put the finishing touches on a stylish performance.

Ateneo started the match searching for the balance between offensive fluency and defensive security which seemed to be lost in their previous outings this season. The energy of wide players Mark Nacional and Rupert Baña helped assert the Blue Eagles dominance early on in the match. Nacional’s mazy runs earned multiple corners for his side, while Baña slid Gayoso through in 23rd minute, only for the striker to be waved offside.

Just before half-time, UST defender Juan Villanueva clumsily handled Roxas’ knock-down in the box, giving away a golden chance to break the match open. Gayoso stepped up and arrowed his penalty into the top corner to tally Ateneo’s first of the match and his first of the season.

Five minutes after the restart, Gayoso struck again, this time nailing a pinpoint free-kick past the sprawling arms of keeper Zaldy Abraham.

Ateneo’s Andoni Maniquis was also a bright spot for the Blue Eagles, offering a creative outlet down the left flank. In the 59th minute, he whipped in a low cross around the UST backline which found Roxas perfectly for the Blue and White’s third of the afternoon.

Ten minutes later, Maniquis was at the heart of another goal. After recycling possession well, his clipped long-ball into the box found Nacional, who laid a smart knock-down for Baña to hammer home. Rookie substitute Luca Alleje capped off the offensive onslaught in the 84th minute by pouncing on a UST error and bagging his first goal in his Ateneo career.

Today’s encouraging victory will spur the Blue Eagles on as they prepare to face-off against Adamson University at 3:00PM on Sunday, March 10, at the same venue.

Ateneo Starting XI: Arcilla (GK); Poe, Liao, Rocha, Maniquis; Baña, Herrera, Roxas (c),  Mercado, Nacional; Gayoso

UST Starting XI: Abraham (GK); Villanueva, Rivera, Ramos, Pasion, Orale, Mercader, Gumban, Fuchigami, De Castro, Benecio

Substitutions:

45’ – Justin Dy on for Nacional

77’ – Jabez Setters on for Roxas; Josh Young (UAAP Debut) on for Maniquis

81’ – Luca Alleje on for Baña

85’ – Jojo Fuentes (UAAP Debut) on for Nacional

Photo by Paolo Yaptinchay