In danger of losing their third straight game in the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament second round, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws dug deep to finally break out from their shell and return to winning ways.
Up against the sinking National University Bulldogs, Park Bo Bae’s men retaliated from a one-goal deficit in the first half to win 2-1, Thursday morning, at their Diliman campus in Quezon City.
NU’s Angelo Paring broke the deadlock for the Bulldogs with a 36th-minute goal, to dampen the Tamaraws’ spirits and give the Jhocson-based school a huge opportunity to revitalize their Final Four chances. Just like in their past games, though, the Blue and Gold failed to cope with the pressure of protecting their one-goal cushion and eventually folded to the opposition.
FEU emerged reinvigorated after the halftime break. Rookie sensation Gio Pabualan equalized for the Tamaraws just three minutes after the game’s resumption. Then veteran Dominique Canonigo struck in the 59th minute to complete the comeback for the four-time champions.
Canonigo’s strike was a welcome respite for the Tamaraws, as it helped them end their two-game rot. The victory was their fifth in the season, alongside three draws and two losses.
On the other hand, the result was NU’s fourth loss in the season as it has only accrued two wins and four draws so far. With only four games left for the Bulldogs in the regular season, Mari Aberasturi’s men need to get their acts together quickly to make a push for the postseason.
NU (10 points) shall next play the Ateneo de Manila University on April 7, 2019, 3:30 PM. On the other hand, FEU (18 points) go up against the Adamson University on April 11, 2019, 3:30 PM. FEU-Diliman will host both games.
