With their post-season hopes already vanquished, the least the University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters wanted was to end their UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament campaign on a high note.
Conrado Dimacali III’s two goals lifted UST to a 2-1 win over the National University Bulldogs, Thursday afternoon at the Far Eastern University-Diliman turf in Quezon City.
The result allows UST to end the season in 5th place with 23 points. Meanwhile, NU finish in 7th place with 10 points.
“Well, na-damage talaga yung performance dahil dun sa draw. Second is yung mga chances namin against… We’re not underestimating other teams like Adamson, pero may mga chances kami dun na hindi namin napanalo. Nag-take advantage yung ibang teams dun,” admitted Golden Booters mentor Marjo Allado.
Dimacali struck first two minutes from halftime when he converted a penalty that handed UST the lead at the break. The veteran forward then converted a Glen Ramos assist in the 63rd minute.
However, NU’s Lemark Unabia gave his side hope of a comeback when he shot past UST goalie Zaldy Abraham Jr in the 66th minute. Unfortunately, it became nothing more than a consolation goal.
It may have been a win for UST, but Xavi Zubiri’s late goal in De La Salle University’s victory over FEU early in the day meant that they miss out on the Final Four for the first time since Season 77.
“Hindi namin kontrol yung game kanina ni FEU at ng (La Salle) kasi dapat may play-off. Kasalanan namin yun, first of all, from the (coaching) staff. Siguro may pinagkulang din kami sa mga draws namin. Hindi namin masisi yung players,” added the former national team player.
NU XI: Alivio, Arbela, Betanio (GK), Broce, Dahan, Escano, Lawagan ©, Moreno, Ouano, Park, Perong.
UST XI: Abraham (GK), Benecio, Caoyonan, De Castro, Dimacali, Fuchigami, Gumban, Orale, Ramos, Rivera, Villanueva.
