PAREF Southridge defied the odds and held defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman to a dramatic 1-1 draw in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
With heroics from goalscorer Joziah Kendrick Rance and birthday celebrant Paolo Tansingco, the Admirals denied the Baby Tamaraws an outright ticket to the final — marking the first time a guest school forced a UAAP powerhouse to settle for a draw.
“I’m happy for the boys. They played according to the game plan,” said Southridge’s Ghanaian coach Sam Bonney. “The main goal before we started the second round was to be part of the Final Four. That’s the goal.”
The Admirals stunned the Baby Tamaraws by striking first, with Rance delivering a composed finish in the 17th minute to the delight of the Southridge camp.
However, the defending champions responded just before halftime.
Captain Francis Sambaan capitalized on a defensive lapse, scoring the equalizer in the 45+4th minute after Southridge failed to clear their lines.
In the second half, Tansingco — celebrating his 18th birthday — emerged as the hero for Southridge.
The goalkeeper made a series of crucial saves, denying league top scorer Jerriemy Biton, as well as substitutes John Incocencio and Arvin Alayon Jr., to secure a hard-fought point.
“Tansingco is a machine,” Bonney said. “He really saved us today — not just today, but in all our games. He was fantastic. We’re lucky to have a goalie like him. We thank him a lot, and I wish him a happy birthday as well.”
Despite the draw, the semifinal-bound FEU-D still remained at the top of the table with 19 points.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, Joshua Moleje’s brace powered University of Santo Tomas to a 2-1 victory over De La Salle Zobel, securing their place in the semifinals with 16 points, currently in second place.
Moleje, a Bacolod native, opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 13th minute and doubled UST’s advantage in the 55th minute.
La Salle responded in the 73rd minute when Justin Concepcion headed in a goal to cut the deficit. The Junior Green Booters nearly forced a draw, but Concepcion’s stoppage-time free kick was comfortably gathered by UST goalkeeper Edcel Lauron.
“Kay Joshua, binibigyan namin siya ng freedom and confidence talaga sa game, so in return binibigyan niya yung team ng goals,” said UST assistant coach David Basa of Moleje, who now has four goals this season. “Tulungan lang. Tinutulungan din siya ng teammates niya to score.
“Kung pasok na kami sa Final Four, preparation to the Final Four and hopefully championship na ito. Siyempre long game and step-by-step.”
DLSZ remained with 13 points with the defeat and now just hold a four-point edge over Ateneo, which edged Claret, 3-2, in the opening match.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Red Roosters drew first blood when Filbert Tacardon converted a penalty in the 69th minute.
However, the Blue Eagles responded with a flurry of goals.
Karl Molina tapped in an equalizer in the 72nd minute, followed by substitute Quintin Angeles’ go-ahead goal just two minutes later.
Ateneo appeared to have sealed the victory when Ethan Roxas scored from a tight angle in the 81st minute, but Claret fought back.
Filmar Tacardon’s header in the 90+8th minute made it 3-2, and substitute Angelo Comla nearly forced a dramatic finish, only for his last-gasp attempt to land straight into the hands of Ateneo goalkeeper Timothy Patawaran to give Ateneo its third win.
“Of course, number one objective going into this game talagang the three points are very important,” said Ateneo coach JP Merida. “We struggled in the first half. In the second half, we conceded an early goal, but good thing their mindset was it’s not the end of the game.
“They pushed in the last 20 minutes, which was why we scored three straight goals. Then in the latter part, naging complacent kami, kaya nag-end pa ‘yung game sa 3-2.”
Southridge remained in fifth with four points while Claret remains at the bottom, still searching for their first point of the season.
