All eyes are on the ball in this bit of action between UST and FEU. (Photo by Sid Ventura)
University of Sto. Tomas sealed a return trip to the UAAP men's football finals by playing third-running Far Eastern University to a scoreless draw at the close of elimination round hostilities Sunday afternoon at the Ateneo High School pitch.
Needing just a draw to advance following De La Salle University's 1-0 loss to archrival Ateneo earlier in the day, the Tigers got just that as they ramped up their defensive line and repeatedly frustrated tournament leading goal scorer Jesus Joaquin Melliza.
"We played defense, and at the same time we counterattacked," said UST coach Marjo Allado. "It's a good thing FEU's shots in the first half didn't go in. Otherwise we would have had a tough time."
Trailing UST by one point in the standings heading into the match, FEU was in a must-win situation, and early on they turned to their main striker to save their season. Melliza came closest to scoring his eighth goal of the tournament in the 29th minute, when he managed to get off a shot from close range that went straight to UST keeper Ramon Borigas, who couldn't hold on to it. But the ball was cleared and the threat snuffed out, and FEU wouldn't get another chance as good as that for the rest of the match.
UST had its own chances to score, with Ronnel Lagrimas sending a shot just over the crossbar in the 68th minute, and his effort in the 70th going straight to the FEU goalkeeper. But neither team would really get a quality attempt as Melliza couldn't get enough support from his teammates while UST wouldn't commit more men forward.
UST thus set up a finals rematch with defending champion University of the Philippines. Last year, armed with the twice-to-beat advantage, UP beat UST, 2-1, to clinch its 15th title. The Maroons will again enjoy the twice-to-beat incentive by virtue of topping the double-round eliminations with 20 points. Game 1 of the finals is set for this 2:00PM of Sunday, February 26 at the Ateneo High School field, and a victory by the Maroons will see them lifting their 16th UAAP trophy and third in the last four years.
However, the defending champs will enter the finals on a bit of a down note after they conceded their first goal of the tournament in a 1-1 draw with UE. Fitch Arboleda earned the distinction of being the first player this season to score against UP's stingy defense with a long strike in the 86th minute. But Jinggoy Valmayor came right back in the 87th to tie it up and salvage UP's unbeaten streak. The Maroons finished with five wins and five draws.
Despite that blemish to their record, the Maroons will enter the finals the slight favorites, since UST will be missing Lagrimas and Jonel Bones due to suspensions.
"Our motivation is that since last year we haven't been able to beat UP," Allado said. "We only managed to draw with them. The last time we beat them was two years ago. UP will be intact because all their yellow cards were already erased in their match against UE. UP has the edge man for man because they're complete. We have to win because they have a twice-to-beat advantage."
Allado admits they can't hope to beat UP if they play the way they did against FEU, especially since the Maroons totally outplayed them in their second-round encounter.
"We have to fix our ball possession. Once we have the ball, we give it up too easily to the opponent. We can't hold onto it. In our second round match, UP showed us how to play good football. They didn't run anymore, you didn't see anyone sprinting, whereas we were running all the time. And they scored two goals."
Earlier, Anton Astimoso scored in the 71st minute as Ateneo foiled La Salle's bid to force a playoff. The Green Archers, carrying 13 points, needed to beat the Blue Eagles to have any hope of tying UST for second.
In women's action, UST ousted UP, 2-1, while La Salle nipped Ateneo by the same score as both teams shared top spot with 12 points.
E-mail: sid_ventura@yahoo.com. Twitter: @Sid_Ventura.
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