The stars aligned for PAREF Southridge, as they secured a return to the UAAP High School Boys’ Football Final Four for the second straight season.
Starting the last elimination round matchday with a 3-1 victory over De La Salle Zobel, Southridge’s hopes and prayers were answered in the next match.
University of Santo Tomas edged Ateneo de Manila University, 2-1, to book the Admirals their place in next week’s semifinals, Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Southridge fulfilled its role in the equation by dispatching La Salle in the opening match of the triple-header. The result marked a departure from their first-round encounter, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate on February 17.
Admirals winger Francis Poticano led the charge, breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute before sealing the win in the 77th. Forward Kale Javier added the team’s second goal in first-half stoppage time (45+4) with a strike from outside the box.
La Salle striker Jayden Gayoso pulled one back for the Junior Green Booters in the 56th minute, heading in an assist from teammate Duke Punzalan. Unfortunately, it proved insufficient to spark a comeback.
“First of all, I would like to thank God for this victory,” said Southridge’s Ghanaian coach Sam Bonney. “The mission was clear. We came here to win because we know we are in a bad spot — if I may put it that way — because we want to be in the Final Four.”
He went on, “So at the end of the day, a win will grant us that one. But of course, we have to wait for this UST against Ateneo game also to know that we are secure in the Final Four.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
As the Admirals remained in the stands, the Junior Golden Booters delivered at the Blue Eagles’ expense, even with the defending champions having nothing at stake.
Midfielder Al Orteza set the tone for UST, finishing clinically in the 27th minute to open the scoring. Ateneo’s woes deepened in the second half as Joshua Balliner doubled UST’s lead in the 57th minute.
The Blue Eagles attempted to force a playoff for the final semifinal berth by pushing for an equalizer.
Tiago Remulla gave Ateneo hope in the 60th minute, heading in a corner kick from Manu Simpao. Simpao and Andres Dumlao later had free-kick opportunities amid Ateneo’s late surge, but both efforts missed the target.
For Junior Golden Booters assistant coach David Basa, securing the win — UST’s second over Ateneo this season after a 3-0 victory on January 31 — was crucial in building momentum heading into next Saturday’s semifinal clash against the Junior Green Booters.
“Yun kasi yung pagpunta namin sa game — hindi namin tine-take for granted,” said Basa.
“Gusto naming makuha yung momentum papunta sa semifinals, kaya ayaw naming magpatalo. Kahit ni-reserve namin ang mga may yellow card at ‘di namin sila sinugal, sinabi namin sa boys na play to win pa rin. Kailangan yung attitude at character nandun at ‘di mawawala.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Far Eastern University-Diliman, which capped off the eliminations with a 5-1 win over Adamson University, enters the postseason as the top seed with 31 points.
FEU-D will face fourth-seeded Southridge (17 points), while second-seeded UST (28 points) and third-seeded La Salle (20 points) square off in the other semifinal.
As the higher seeds, the Baby Tamaraws and the Junior Golden Booters hold a twice-to-beat advantage over the Admirals and the Junior Green Booters, respectively, when they clash next Saturday at the same venue.
Meanwhile, braces from Thomas Baylon and Jerriemy Biton powered FEU-D’s rout of Adamson.
The match was tied at 1-1 at halftime after Tristan Alkuino’s own goal in the 23rd minute handed the Baby Tamaraws an early lead, before Baby Falcons striker Josh Año equalized in the 45th minute.
Baylon (51’, 56’) and Biton (53’, 59’) then combined for four goals in an eight-minute blitz to secure a convincing win for FEU-D. The result also completed a season sweep for the Baby Tamaraws, who previously defeated the Baby Falcons, 5-0, in the first round on January 17.
“Masaya siyempre. Pinaghirapan yung goals na yan,” said FEU-D coach Jake Morallo. “In the first half, medyo again, out of connection, out of focus — maybe nawawala sila sa roles nila bawat isa, so this is why I think ‘yun lang ang nakuha sa first half. But in the second half, I think it was a good adjustment.
“I think maganda yung adjustment ng bawat isa. As we saw, maraming rookies ngayon na nabigyan ng chance, and I think they deserved it this time. Masaya ako na may mga players na nag-step up.”
Rounding out the standings are Ateneo (16 points) in fifth place, followed by Adamson (6 points) and Claret (3 points).
