Dwight Pancho’s last-minute leveler allowed University of Santo Tomas to remain on top of the standings by surviving Ateneo de Manila University 1-1 in the UAAP Season 86 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Pancho, who came on in the 72nd minute for defender Vincenzo Solidum, headed the ball home in the 90+7 minute off a corner kick.
The grade 11 midfielder from Santa Ana, Manila, found the breakthrough after a barrage of attempts from UST throughout the game. The likes of Solidum, Rodrigo Mariñas III, John Mark Visitacion, and Daniel Cagaanan all tried their luck to no avail until Pancho’s equalizer.
“Napakaganda ng corner kicks and then na-convert ni Dwight Pancho nung last minute of the game,” said coach Marjo Allado. “Ateneo almost won the match pero, yun nga, dramatic siya pero madaming lesson kami makukuha dito sa game na to, especially for some players.”
UST ended the first round in first place with seven points on the back of two wins and one draw. The Junior Golden Booters also have a goal difference of plus-5.
“Congratulations pa din sa players kasi hindi pa kami talo eh. Tumaas pa rin yung kumpyansa ng players dahil dun sa goal. Yung never say die attitude ng UST nandiyan,” said Allado.
The Blue Eagles were set to win their first game in the UAAP since their 1-0 victory over the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups last January 8, 2020, back in Season 82 but it just was not meant to be.
Defender Xian Renzo Tumang broke the deadlock for Ateneo in the 68th minute. The Blue Eagles, though, failed to hold on to their slender lead with seconds left on the clock.
Despite the heartbreaking finish, Ateneo coach Dodjie Locsin was proud of how the Blue Eagles competed. It is back to the drawing board for Ateneo, which is looking to build on this performance when the second round commences next Sunday.
“I have to admit that UST is a very skillful team,” said Locsin. “The boys are also skillful but not at the same level of UST.
“What we are targeting right now is the mental toughness of these boys. They fought well. We trained even yesterday. We practiced but slowly, probably we will take one game at a time this time,” he continued.
The evening’s match saw Far Eastern University-Diliman get back on track by staving off De La Salle Zobel, 4-3, in a rematch of last season’s finals.
The Baby Tamaraws looked set to coast to victory when they amassed a four-goal cushion. Theo Jico Libarnes opened the floodgates just seven minutes into the game while Czam Acuesta doubled the 11-time champions’ cushion in the 34th minute.
Klian Terrence Niu then scored a brace in the 46th and 54th minutes of the match to give FEU-D what should have been an unassailable lead.
However, the Junior Archers fought back and fell painfully short of earning a draw. Miguel Javier Manolo Bengson sparked the comeback hopes with a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, which was awarded due to a foul inside the box.
Skipper Viggo Louis Herce and Julio Antonio Yoldi edged the Junior Archers closer with strikes in the 80 and 85th minutes. Unfortunately, the Junior Archers failed to finish the story.
After five minutes of added time were raised, La Salle desperately tried to score that fourth goal that would have earned it a miraculous draw. Bengson had another sniff at goal, only for his attempt to go straight to the hands of FEU-D goalkeeper Quintin Lance Sanchez.
That was as far the Junior Archers got as the Baby Tamaraws managed to hold on for all three points.
“I think when we were up already by 4-0, we were a bit overconfident,” said FEU-D coach Albert Besa. “There were a few errors with our defense, especially our goalkeeper. He let in a goal that should have been his and I think that started the loss of momentum.”
“I think in our backline, with our skill, we should be calm and be able to deal with any situation and not panic. There were a few instances where the panic led to the goals I believe.”
FEU-D finished the first round in second place with six points on the back of two wins and one loss. La Salle is in third place with three points while Ateneo is last with one point.
