Safe to say, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles have put their dismal start to the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament behind them.
Behind Rupert Baña’s brace, the Blue Eagles enjoyed a 4-0 victory over the National University Bulldogs, Sunday afternoon, at the Far Eastern University-Diliman turf.
The result marks Ateneo’s third consecutive comprehensive victory, since they had previously clinched 5-0 and 4-0 victories over UST and Adamson respectively.
“Yung problema namin sa first three games namin is hindi talaga namin na-convert lahat ng mga chances namin. The good thing lang siguro sa three straight wins namin is yung finishing. Na-convert talaga namin (yung mga chances),” said Ateneo coach Jay Pee Merida.
Merida’s men got themselves a two-goal cushion in the first 10 minutes of the game. Rupert Baña first scored from close range in the 2nd minute of the match. Mark Nacional next capitalized on a defensive miscue by the Bulldogs to double the Blue Eagles’ lead five minutes later.
Baña then capped off another perfect afternoon for the Blue Eagles when he scored the third goal from a tight angle at the 58th minute. With eight minutes on the game clock remaining, substitute Martin Ordoñez struck a long shot to put the icing on the Blue Eagles’ cake.
“Yung motivation after nung first three games, nag-iba talaga. Talagang tumaas na we’re not here just to play. Of course, we have to step up talaga doon sa nangyari sa (mga) result namin sa first three games,” said Merida.
Ateneo (10pts) close the first round with a clash against archrivals De La Salle University on March 21, 2019, 3:00 PM in FEU-Diliman. On the other hand, NU (5pts) awaits its first assignment for the second round.
ADMU XI: Arcilla (GK), Baña, Gayoso, Herrera, Liao, Maniquis, Mercado, Nacional, Poe, Rocha, Roxas ©.
NU XI: Alangilan, Alivio, Betanio (GK), Broce, Dahan, Deloso, Lawagan ©, Ouano, Paring, Perong, Sullano.
