Behind the heroics of captain Kristien Gabriel Elopre and goalkeeper Edcel James Lauron, University of Santo Tomas stunned defending champion Far Eastern University-Dilliman 2-0 to seize the top of the table in the UAAP Season 86 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Elopre, who is grade 12 and from Pasig City, broke the deadlock 15 minutes into the match by shooting past Baby Tamaraws goalkeeper Quintin Lance Sanchez.
The 17-year-old midfielder then sealed all three points for the Junior Golden Booters with a penalty kick in the 84th minute, which was awarded after defender Kent Laurenz Dela Peña was brought down in the FEU-D box.
“As a team captain, yung pag-lead niya ng game ngayon against FEU-D napakaganda,” said coach Marjo Allado after the Junior Golden Booters snapped the Baby Tamaraws’ 17-match unbeaten run.
“For the two goals, sigurado ako next game na mag-a-aim nanaman yan mag-score and then yung performance niya siguro, consistent na yung performance niya.”
The result marked the Baby Tamaraws’ first loss in the tournament since a 1-0 defeat to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last February 3, 2019, back in Season 81.
While Elopre stole the show upfront, it was Lauron who proved crucial at the back as he performed multiple stops in the game’s final minutes to protect the Junior Golden Booters’ lead.
The 6-foot-1 goalkeeper from General Santos City denied FEU-D’s Leoven Jay Gatungay with a fine stop and he performed a fantastic double save soon after while UST was only leading one-nil.
Ultimately, the Junior Golden Booters clinched a memorable win at the expense of the 11-time champions and they will look to finish the first round strongly against the Blue Eagles next Sunday.
“Kailangan pa rin namin hanapan ng paraan how to break the lines against Ateneo para maka-score kami,” said Allado. “Para yung first round, ma-perfect namin na nine points. For that nine points, at least medyo malapit na kami sa championship.”
Later, De La Salle Zobel drubbed archrival Ateneo de Manila University, 3-0, to get its first full points.
The Junior Archers opened the floodgates as early as two minutes into the game.
Miguel Javier Manolo Bengson headed the ball home to set the tone for La Salle. Up by a goal at the break, the Junior Green Booters continued pounding the Blue Eagles in the second half.
Substitute Bacchus Dwyn Ekberg doubled La Salle’s lead with a fantastic free kick in the 59th minute while forward Julio Antonio Yoldi wrapped up the victory with a fine finish in the 73rd minute.
Despite the victory, coach Aryee Nii Ayi, who replaced long-time mentor Hans-Peter Smit, was not happy with how the Junior Archers played.
“I’m really not impressed with the scoreline because we could have scored more,” said coach Ayi who won a championship with University of the Philippines at the collegiate level back in Season 73.
“We came from a loss, which is -3 goals, and we should have scored more because if we really wanted to be in the finals, this is a game that will push us up. But all the same, we have the three points and we look forward to the next game.”
La Salle-Zobel will look to build on this win when it takes on FEU-D in a rematch of last season’s Final next Sunday.
However, the Junior Archers will have to overcome the wounded Baby Tamaraws without Ekberg and Alonso Lucas Aguilar as both players will be suspended after getting yellow cards for the second straight game.
“They are the team to beat. Even if they came from a loss today, they are still strong,” said Ayi.
“But the saddest thing is my two players are suspended — Luke Aguilar and Bacchus Ekberg. Actually in this game, I put them on the bench and then I brought them on, and still they got their yellow cards so no option but to prepare against FEU in the next game.”
