By: Nicole Parallag
Danielle Benitez and Celina Salazar led the way as Ateneo de Manila University clinched the last Final Four ticket in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament with a 2-0 victory over National University on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Benitez, a standout from Cebu, broke the deadlock in the 44th minute to put the Blue Eagles in front. Salazar then sealed the victory with a goal in the 90+4 minute, securing all three points and Ateneo’s entry into the next phase of the competition.
The result completed the women’s division’s Final Four cast, with Ateneo securing the last spot with 13 points, ahead of fifth-place University of Santo Tomas, which finished with 11 points.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The Blue Eagles join top-seeded Far Eastern University, second-placed De La Salle University, and third-placed University of the Philippines in the postseason lineup.
Ateneo now awaits the confirmation of the postseason format, which will be determined after the Lady Tamaraws face the Green Lady Booters in the final match of the elimination round on Wednesday night.
“Our objective, like what I said at the start of the season, is to be in the final four, since this is the inaugural season for us to have a final four, so we have aimed to get that objective, and of course, we wanted to improve more,” commented Manululo.
“For us, since we got the number four position, it will be really a mountainous level to accomplish. If God forbid, let’s see what will happen in the next game. What will be our destiny?”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
NU had a chance to level the match in the 81st minute after Ateneo’s Rae Tolentino was shown a red card for pulling back Jaquilin Esteban, giving the Lady Bulldogs a free kick.
However, Blue Eagles goalkeeper Sophia Gajitos denied Lizzie Torre’s attempt, preserving Ateneo’s clean sheet.
Although they failed to register a point in their debut campaign, the Lady Bulldogs showed grit in their final match despite having only 14 players available for the contest.
