Rodrigo Mariñas set the tone as University of Santo Tomas dominated Ateneo de Manila University, 3-1, moving up to second in the standings and inching closer to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
With 18 points now on the board, UST leapfrogged Far Eastern University (17 points) for the second spot. FEU, however, has an immediate chance to respond, as the defending champions were facing De La Salle University at the time of posting.
“Yung objective ngayong gabi, na-achieve ng mga bata,” said coach Marjo Allado. “Yung two goals sa first half malaking bagay for us eh, dahil parang nag-slow down yung laro namin nung second half.
He added, “Si Ateneo, may history na lumalaban hanggang matapos eh. The moment na maka-goal sila, yung momentum nasa sa kanila but yung defending namin maayos naman.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Mariñas, a native of San Carlos City, opened the scoring for the Golden Booters with a left-footed strike in the 18th minute, marking his fifth goal of the season.
UST captain Kyler Escobar then extended the lead before halftime, beating the offside trap and calmly slotting the ball past Ateneo rookie goalkeeper JP Tansingco in the 42nd minute.
The rout was sealed when Ateneo center-back Aidan Aguirre inadvertently headed the ball into his own net in the 51st minute while under pressure from Escobar.
The result served as perfect redemption for UST, which had fallen 2-1 to Ateneo in their first-round clash on October 2, 2025, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
“Prepare na kami for the next game against UP. I think, for now, recover muna players physically. Mentally naman, they’re motivated to play for the next game na gusto nila manalo,” said Allado. “Sa ngayon, recover talaga muna, and then we start training after two days.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Substitute forward Liam Lanuza ensured that the Blue Eagles would avoid a shutout, scoring a consolation goal in the 71st minute.
Before Lanuza’s strike, Ghanaian forward Kofi Agyei had two chances to score for Ateneo but was unable to convert his headers.
The loss dropped the Blue Eagles to fourth in the standings with 15 points, five points clear of fifth-placed Far Eastern University.
Both teams will return to action next Sunday at the same venue. Ateneo will wrap up its elimination-round campaign against FEU at 4:30 PM, followed by UST facing the University of the Philippines at 7:00 PM.
