Ahead of its rematch of last season’s final against University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University-Diliman climbed to solo first in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football standings with a 2–0 win over Claret School of Quezon City.
In contrast, UST warmed up for the marquee matchup by salvaging a dramatic 2–2 draw against Adamson University — marking the defending champion’s first dropped points this season.
Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel opened the day by edging archrival Ateneo de Manila University 1–0 for its second win of the tournament.
FEU-D controlled the pitch from the outset against Claret, which came in buoyed by a confidence-boosting win over Adamson last week. The Baby Tamaraws dictated the tempo, finding the breakthroughs they needed in each half to secure a comfortable victory and move clear at the top of the table.
Defender Leowell Fabela gave FEU-D the lead in the 27th minute, while striker Jimuel Panganiban sealed the win with a fine goal from a tight angle in the 53rd minute.
Despite the result, FEU-D coach Jake Morallo expressed disappointment, this time with forward Jerriemy Biton, who missed the next match after picking up a yellow card for the second straight fixture.
“Sa mga kulang namin, babalikan pa namin in time sa next game,” said Morallo. “Excited kami pero we have to be well-planned and well-organized. Yun ang kailangan natin gawin. Kay Biton, medyo nasasayangan kami kasi double yellow siya, so tignan natin yung mga players na pwede pa mag-step up.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
While FEU-D enjoyed a straightforward afternoon, UST’s game was anything but. The Junior Golden Booters were expected to cruise but found themselves in a dogfight as the Baby Falcons nearly pulled off the tournament’s biggest shock.
UST forward Argos Alingalan scored just two minutes into the match to give the Junior Golden Booters a dream start. Adamson, however, responded almost immediately, as Stephen Derrick converted a penalty kick in the 8th minute to level the contest.
In the second half, Derrick coolly finished in the 53rd minute to give the Baby Falcons their first lead. Adamson remained resilient, relying on a solid backline and goalkeeper Johnwey Camaria’s saves to protect the scoreline.
UST managed to snatch a point in dramatic fashion. With seconds left in stoppage time, a set-piece allowed James Sunog to head the ball into the net in the 90+8th minute.
“Syempre yung mga ganitong performance, gawing lesson na kailangan pa nila mag-improve at di dapat sila mag settle sa kung ano yung meron sila,” said Junior Golden Booters assistant David Basa. “Kailangan pa nila mag-improve sa next game.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The first match of the day saw La Salle narrowly defeat archrival Ateneo thanks to a late second-half goal.
Junior Green Booters substitute Geoffrey Marqueses headed home in the 73rd minute from a free kick awarded after a foul by Ateneo forward Santi Remulla. The Blue Eagles pressed to respond, forcing a scramble in their rivals’ box, but failed to capitalize as La Salle cleared their lines.
With time running out, La Salle midfielder Tobias Paulino nearly doubled the lead but shot wide, leaving Marqueses’ goal enough for the Muntinlupa-based school to claim three points.
“Kita niyo naman very tight yung game,” said La Salle coach Arvin Soliman. “Luckily, we converted from a set-piece. We practiced set-pieces like that because we’re expecting that we will score against Ateneo through set-pieces. May isang nakalusot so it’s a good win for us.”
A rematch of last year’s final headlines Wednesday’s triple-header, as FEU-D and UST clash at 7 p.m. to cap the matchday. Earlier, PAREF Southridge faces Claret at 2 p.m., while La Salle and Adamson meet at 4:30 p.m.
Ateneo returns to action next Saturday against Adamson at 2 p.m.
