League-leader Far Eastern University-Diliman and defending champion University of Santo Tomas set up a battle for the top seed this Saturday after securing their respective Final Four spots in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Powered by a hat-trick from Jumong Amita, FEU-D dispatched Claret School of Quezon City, 4–1, to maintain its hold on the top spot via goal difference. Meanwhile, UST edged Adamson University, 2–1 — a result that officially eliminated the Baby Falcons from semifinal contention.
FEU-D and UST currently lead the competition with 22 points apiece. However, the Baby Tamaraws hold the top spot thanks to a superior plus-23 goal difference, compared to the Junior Golden Booters’ plus-13.
In the evening match, De La Salle Zobel strengthened its grip on third place by defeating archrival Ateneo de Manila University, 2–1. The victory lifted La Salle to 17 points, while Ateneo and PAREF Southridge remain in fourth and fifth place with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Adamson and Claret round out the table in sixth and seventh place with six and three points, respectively.
Fourth-year midfielder Amita — the fifth member of his family to represent FEU across the three UAAP divisions — found the net in the 10th, 64th, and 76th minutes. Sambher Abrenica added the Baby Tamaraws’ other goal in the 48th minute.
The three-goal margin marked a more decisive outcome than their first-round meeting on February 7, when the Baby Tamaraws defeated the Red Roosters, 2–0.
“Very happy,” said FEU-D coach Jake Morallo. “If you try to observe, almost all our attackers nakapagkaroon ng scores. We can see nagshashare sila, may connection sila sa bawat isa. Yun pinakathe-best: position to score, you have to give chances. Pero kapag may chance, 90% maayos na position to score, then take, take.”
“We can see yung drive niya from today’s game. It’s very good to see Amita na naka-hat-trick; he deserves those goals.”
In contrast, Rolando Torres provided a consolation strike for the Red Roosters. The Claret forward now has two goals in as many matches.
The Baby Tamaraws now shift their focus to Saturday as they try to even the score with the Junior Golden Booters, who prevailed, 2–1, when the two squads faced off last February 11.
“This will be a very exciting game,” said Morallo. “We go back again sa mga kailangan naming i-prove; kailangan naming i-adjust. Siguro, we have to go back and i-analyze ano yung problem namin, paano pa ma-improve yung game sa UST nung first round—paano kami natalo in that moment, ano kailangan i-adjust para maging deadly pa kami. So let’s see. Tignan din natin sino starting natin, because some of the players medyo off in some cases.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Unlike their 2–2 draw last February 7, UST extended its winning streak to four matches by holding off the Baby Falcons in convincing fashion during the triple-header’s opening game.
Al Orteza first handed the Junior Golden Booters the lead with a tap-in in the 36th minute. In the second half, Joshua Moleje sealed the win with a clinical penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
Substitute Rafael Ojeda pulled one back for the Baby Falcons in the 88th minute, though it proved to be too little, too late.
For UST assistant coach David Basa, the victory was significant, especially with leading scorer Argos Alingalan sidelined due to a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.
“Confident naman ako sa boys pagdating sa game na ‘to, so konting adjustment lang kasi si Alingalan, suspended,” said Basa. “So, nilagay natin sa first half si Earl Bahan. Then, nung hindi masyadong nagwo-work, nilagay natin si Joshua Moleje on top. Medyo nag-move yung bola sa attacking third. Mahirap talaga kalabanin ang Adamson, so medyo challenge for the boys. Lagi kong sinasabi: focus lang sa training, focus lang sa game. Okay naman, na-score din kami.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Basa emphasized the importance of their upcoming matchup against the Baby Tamaraws.
“For sure, matinding laban yung sa Saturday against FEU-D. Pero for us, makuha namin either top one or top two, since yun yung pinaka-kailangan—yung twice-to-beat na makuha. It’s either one or two; it’s the same,” he said.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, La Salle completed its mastery of Ateneo with another victory, mirroring their first-round meeting on February 7, which also saw the Junior Green Booters claim a 1–0 win over the Blue Eagles.
Renz Partosa gave the Junior Green Booters an early lead in the 15th minute before Andre Tongson doubled the advantage with a goal in the 36th minute.
The Blue Eagles attempted a second-half comeback to salvage a draw, beginning with an Andres Dumlao strike in the 62nd minute. Ateneo had one final opportunity to level the match late, but Manu Simpao’s header missed the target, allowing La Salle to secure the victory.
For La Salle coach Arvin Soliman, the win was impressive considering that some of his players had just competed in the Regional Athletic Association Meet in Batangas.
“Sa boys naman, binigay nila lahat sa game even though mabigat yung mga katawan nila,” said Soliman. “Coming from sa RAAM, sa Batangas, half of the team galing sa RAAM, so half of the team nagte-training — so masyadong mabigat. Although binigay nila lahat, may mga correction kaming kailangang i-adjust para sa next game namin.”
