Dani Tanjangco scored the winner as De La Salle University formalized its entry into the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Final Four with a narrow 1-0 victory over archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The third-year standout from De La Salle Zobel put the Lady Booters ahead in the 36th minute, snapping La Salle’s two-match winless streak following a 1-0 defeat to Far Eastern University on October 7 and a 1-1 draw against the University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Happy naman kasi after a loss tapos draw, we’re getting back sa track namin,” said coach Joyce Landagan. “Continuous nag-le-learn yung team so I’m very happy about it.”
Tanjangco’s goal lifted La Salle to 16 points and solidified its hold on second place, making the Lady Booters the second team to secure a semifinal berth this season after defending champion FEU.
Having beaten Ateneo, 3-0, in the first round last September 26, La Salle needs six points from its remaining three matches to secure the second seed. Landagan stressed the importance of maintaining the team’s momentum to secure the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
“That’s one step closer pero kailangan naming mag-focus sa remaining games namin,” she said. “Important din kasi yun, yung performance namin doon kasi yung ranking din; it will be good for us if mag-one kami or mag-two kami. At least kunin namin yung twice-to-beat status kung kaya namin. We will still focus doon sa bawat game namin — one game at a time — but we’re happy na nasa Final Four kami.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Ateneo, meanwhile, dropped to fourth place with nine points following the University of the Philippines’ 2-0 victory over National University earlier in the day. The Fighting Maroons climbed to third with 12 points.
The Blue Eagles are now on a two-game losing streak but remain in contention for a Final Four berth, holding a five-point cushion over fifth-placed UST.
Both teams return to action this Wednesday at the same venue. La Salle will open the triple-header against NU at 2 p.m., while Ateneo takes on UST at 4:30 p.m.
