By: Nicole Parallag
Jose Pleños delivered a late game-winner to lift the University of the Philippines to the top of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament standings, handing former league leader Adamson University a 1-0 defeat on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Pleños, a rookie from Claret School of Quezon City, broke the deadlock in the 84th minute, capitalizing on a set piece that stemmed from a long throw-in by teammate Jian Caraig.
“Last game, we were sloppy, and with the sloppiness, we didn’t have the balance to stop their counterattacks,” said coach Popoy Clarino. “Today, we had more control; we were more compact towards the end. It was just the resiliency of the players—not giving up, working together, and encouraging one another.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The victory served as a reversal of fortunes for the Fighting Maroons, who fell to the Soaring Falcons, 2-1, in their first-round meeting on October 25. That result allowed Adamson to finish the opening round on top of the standings, while Sunday’s defeat snapped its six-game unbeaten run.
Adamson’s Dany Golike nearly broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, but his long-range attempt narrowly missed the target.
On the other end, Joshua Garces came close to putting UP ahead in the 27th minute, only for Adamson goalkeeper CJ Lauron to deny his header with a quick save.
Golike, the 21-year-old Cameroonian forward, continued to search for an equalizer in the second half, unleashing two more attempts. However, he was unable to get past UP goalkeeper Will Oberes.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Filling in for the ill Fonzy Gonzales, Oberes stood tall between the posts to record his first clean sheet of the season.
The victory lifted UP to the top of the standings with 17 points, pushing Adamson down to second with 16.
“Both teams deserve those three points. Adamson was on top of the table, so they’re setting the standard right now, but we’re here to compete,” added Clarino.
UP will enjoy a week-long break before returning to action against Far Eastern University on November 15 at 2:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, Adamson will look to bounce back when it faces FEU this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
