University of Santo Tomas opened the second round of the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament in style, blanking Claret School of Quezon City, 3–0, to reclaim pole position on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Powered by a standout performance from striker Argos Alingalan, the Junior Golden Booters completed a season sweep of the Red Roosters and returned to the top of the standings.
Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel kicked off the matchday with a 3–1 win over Adamson University, while Ateneo de Manila University held on despite the ejections of head coach JP Merida and two players, prevailing 1–0 against PAREF Southridge.
Alingalan once again proved to be the catalyst for the Junior Golden Booters, carrying over the momentum from Tuesday’s 5–1 demolition of the Red Roosters with another scoring clinic.
Fresh off a brace earlier in the week, the 18-year-old forward went one better against Claret, firing a hat-trick in the 29th, 33rd, and 71st minutes.
This clinical display pushed the Tagum City standout’s season tally to seven goals and made him only the second player this year to record a hat-trick in the high school boys’ division, joining Claret’s own Filbert Tacardon, who achieved the feat last January 31 against the Baby Falcons.
“Good na naka-score kami ng three goals,” said UST assistant coach David Basa. “Yung hattrick ni Argos, good confidence-booster sa kanya going to the second round. Masipag naman siya sa training at masipag siya para sa team — reward na rin sa hard work.”
UST now leads with 16 points, followed by idle Far Eastern University-Diliman in second with 15 and La Salle in third with 13. Ateneo (10) reclaimed fourth spot, leapfrogging Southridge (8), which dropped to fifth. Adamson and Claret are in sixth and seventh, respectively, with three points each.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
After a two-game slump, La Salle relied on Andre Tongson’s two-goal performance to bounce back against Adamson.
The rookie from La Salle Green Hills opened the scoring in the 24th minute, calmly skipping past Baby Falcons keeper Cody Saavedra before slotting the ball into an open net. He then completed his brace in the 48th minute with a simple tap-in after a slick dribble from teammate Renz Partosa.
In between Tongson’s goals, Stephen Derrick pulled one back for Adamson in the 34th minute. However, substitute Jayden Gayoso dashed any comeback hopes, sealing the 3–1 victory in the 90+2nd minute for the Junior Green Booters.
“Siyempre, masaya kasi nakuha namin yung objective namin, which was the three points,” said La Salle coach Arvin Soliman. “Sabi ko sa kanila during the huddle, kailangan natin manalo against them na convincing kasi yung first game namin was only 1-0 (last February 11). At least ngayon, naka-score kami ng tatlo. From there, I can say na we’re improving in terms of finishing kasi yun talaga naging problema namin sa previous games namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The final match of the evening saw Ateneo edge Southridge by a single goal, mirroring their first-round encounter on January 17.
Captain Andres Dumlao scored the decisive goal in the 22nd minute as the Blue Eagles survived a tense second half.
Manu Simpao was the first Ateneo player sent off after receiving a straight red card for dissent following a yellow card for delaying the game. The ejection sparked strong reactions from the Blue Eagles’ bench, prompting referee Segundo Saluria III to also issue red cards to Merida and assistant coach Mark Ayuson.
Southridge tried desperately to salvage a draw, but the Admirals’ efforts were thwarted. After a shot hit the crossbar, Jose Mamon and Javier Cervantes both failed to convert late-game chances.
In stoppage time, Ateneo defender Johnson Talosig also received a red card for a dangerous foul, giving Southridge one last opportunity. A late corner allowed goalkeeper Timothy Patawaran to attempt a dramatic equalizer, but his effort was easily dealt with by Ateneo’s Reign Deocampo.
“First of all, I’m so happy for my players,” said Merida. “From outside the technical area, I saw that their hard work gave us the three points. Even with the red cards, hindi sila nag-stop going into the final whistle. For me, we deserve these three points and we need to set another preparation going into the Adamson game.”
