Fresh off holding defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman to a draw last week, PAREF Southridge made another statement in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament, edging De La Salle Zobel 2-1 in a thrilling all-Muntinlupa duel, Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Francis Poticano emerged as the hero once again, scoring a second-half brace to bring his season tally to four goals.
His efforts helped Southridge climb to seven points in fifth place — just two behind fourth-placed Ateneo de Manila University — with two matches remaining in the eliminations.
Later in the afternoon, Ateneo fell to the Baby Tamaraws, 1-0, further boosting the Admirals’ playoff hopes.
The victory marked a historic milestone for Southridge, securing its first-ever win against a UAAP member team — a remarkable feat for one of the two guest teams competing this season.
“Oh, that’s class,” said Admirals’ Ghanaian coach Sam Bonney. “We’ve been working on it for months now. It’s so unlucky that when the tournament started, (Poticano) was not getting that movement and the clear shots, but we know his quality and what he can do.
“So him scoring these goals, it’s not a surprise for me. I know he can do it since he’s been doing it in practice, just that it’s not getting in the game, but today he was able to find the back of the net.”
Poticano put Southridge ahead in the 64th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box against a La Salle Zobel side missing suspended key player Bacchus Ekberg due to yellow card accumulation.
The 16-year-old winger doubled Southridge’s lead in the 80th minute, slotting the ball into an open net after La Salle goalkeeper Jacob Salavante misjudged his timing and left his box too early.
La Salle’s Renz Partosa pulled one back in the 81st minute, but it was too little, too late, as the Admirals held firm to keep their Final Four aspirations alive.
“The main goal here is to get to the top four,” Bonney said. “We started last week, and this week we were able to come back again with a win. So definitely we are looking forward to our next game against Claret and then let’s see what the game has for us.”
Before kickoff, a minute of silence was observed in honor of Rosalyn Lariosa, the mother of one of the Junior Archers.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the second match, FEU-D captain Francis Sambaan delivered the game’s lone goal in the 77th minute, finishing from close range off a set-piece. League top scorer Jerriemy Biton started on the bench and entered in the 60th minute, replacing Nash Abrenica.
“Masaya kami sa (pag) bounce-back namin from (the) Southridge game,” said Baby Tamaraws coach Jake Morallo. “Almost the same concept sila sa defending, naglo-low-block, sobrang mahirap i-penetrate but then nagawan pa rin ng paraan at naka-score kami.
“Although lahat key players, yung plan namin is kailangan muna ibabad muna namin mga subs din namin. Nung game against Southridge, medyo masama yung game (at) di maganda yung pinakita nila ni Biton and other starters namin. I thought it was time na mabigyan chance yung mga subs namin.”
FEU-D remains atop the standings with 22 points, followed by second-placed University of Santo Tomas with 19 points. La Salle sits in third place with 13 points and needs at least one point from its remaining two matches to secure a Final Four berth.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the nightcap, UST edged Claret School of Quezon City 1-0.
Justin Aque scored the decisive goal in the 16th minute with a composed finish from close range.
In the second half, substitute Yuan Maniscan squandered several chances to extend UST’s lead, while Red Roosters striker Rolando Torres saw his free kicks comfortably saved by goalkeeper Marco Jalog.
Despite the win, UST assistant coach David Basa saw areas for improvement in his team’s finishing.
“Syempre nakulangan pa kami sa goals,” said Basa. “Kailangan ng boys talaga maging lethal inside the penalty area. Sana makuha nila yung rhythm nila and yung confidence sa goal.”
He admitted, “Sa defenders namin, siyempre meron tayo lapses eh. Kailangan namin i-remind na every game hangga’t di pa tapos, di pa last whistle, kailangan yung concentration, yung focus mo nandun. Once nawala ka sa game, nagkakaroon ng chances ang kalaban.”
Claret, still at the bottom of the standings with no points, has been officially eliminated from Final Four contention.
