With their Final Four hopes hanging by a thread, Ateneo de Manila University and PAREF Southridge are set to clash in a high-stakes, do-or-die showdown in Friday’s final elimination round matchday of the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament.
The winner earns a coveted semifinal spot, while the loser sees their season come to a heartbreaking end.
The Blue Eagles and the Admirals will headline the triple-header at 7:00 PM.
Ateneo needs a win to leapfrog fourth-placed Southridge, which can secure the last Final Four slot with just a draw.
Momentum is clearly on the Admirals’ side, as they enter the match on a three-game unbeaten run, featuring a draw against the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws and victories over the De La Salle Junior Archers and Claret Red Roosters.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I’m just really happy and relieved that I’m able to finally get some goals this season,” said Southridge’s two-goal hero Kale Javier after their 3-0 win over Claret.
“I’m also so happy that I got to show the results from my hard work and training by staying consistent and maintaining my good habits on and off the pitch. I’m just happy that the results finally came out.”
On the other hand, Ateneo is reeling from back-to-back losses to the Baby Tamaraws and UST Junior Golden Booters. The Blue Eagles needed a win against UST last Saturday to keep their fate in their own hands.
The Junior Golden Booters, however, did Southridge a favor by overcoming a slow start and finishing strong against Ateneo. The Blue Eagles’ struggles were compounded when Southridge claimed victory in their subsequent match against Claret.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I mean, we scored the first goal,” said Ateneo midfielder Andres Dumlao, who netted his team’s lone goal in their 3-1 defeat to UST. “Sayang pero the first goal sana was the one that would have motivated us to, you know, do better.
“Pero yun nga, when they scored the other goal in the first half, nawala yung momentum namin. The momentum went to UST. When the momentum went to UST, bigla na lang nag-break ‘yung defense namin.”
Now, with the biggest match of their season looming, pressure mounts for both teams. While Ateneo dominated Southridge 3-0 in the first round, the Admirals have improved significantly since then.
The stakes are clear for both squads: With the Baby Tamaraws, Junior Golden Booters, and Junior Green Booters already secured in the Final Four, only one spot remains.
“Right now, we don’t really know our strategy yet,” Dumlao admitted. “But as of now, maybe we just focus on our mentality. Like what coach (JP Merida) said, we still have a chance, kaya pa even if Southridge won their game today. We still have a chance, but we have to win the game.”
“No matter what, I’m sure our team will do its best,” Javier affirmed. “We’ve been staying consistent in these past few games. So, I guess we’ll stay on this consistent path. We’ll do our best in training coming into this week.”
