University of Santo Tomas will contest the championship for the first time ever after earning a thrilling 2-2 draw against De La Salle Zobel in the UAAP Season 86 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The Junior Golden Booters qualified for the big dance by accruing 11 points behind three wins and two draws.
With one more round of matches left in the elimination round, the lowest place that UST can drop to is second place and will still make it even if it loses to holders Far Eastern University-Diliman.
The Baby Tamaraws have nine points, two clear off the Junior Archers.
Theo Libarnes stole the show as he scored all the goals to lead FEU-D to a 4-1 rout of Ateneo de Manila University in the night match.
Despite the achievement, Junior Golden Booters coach Marjo Allado felt that UST needed to address a lot of things before focusing on the final.
“Regarding sa game, we were leading in the first half and the second half,” said Allado. “Yung concern namin yung endgame eh: ang daming players nag-cramps and we have to check that eh kung ano yung loading.
“Anyway, we survived. Qualified na kami sa final. Waiting na kami and first time ng UST juniors makalaro sa final so deserve nila yan,” he continued.
Midfielder Yuan Angelo Maniscan opened the scoring in the 25th minute for the Junior Golden Booters by putting the ball into an open net amid the Junior Archers’ miscommunication in defense.
However, Julio Antonio Yoldi scored La Salle’s first leveler in the contest in the 45+2 minute with a header after a fine passage of play.
Come the second half, UST defender Kent Laurenz Dela Peña managed to steal the ball from a La Salle defender inside the penalty box and finish cooly in the 47th minute to give the Junior Golden Booters the lead.
The Junior Archers, though, pushed for another equalizer and got one in the 90+3 minute courtesy of Bacchus Ekberg’s free kick. This was the third free kick that Ekberg has scored this season in just five matches.
It was an anticlimactic finish for the Junior Golden Booters.
With the big dance penciled two weeks from now, Allado wanted UST to maintain its undefeated run in the elimination round next week against Far Eastern University-Diliman while making sure none of its players get suspended for the final.
“Yung concern namin against FEU, of course, is yung yellow cards lang,” said Allado. “Pasok na kami so it’s a non-bearing game but we have to take it seriously kasi you’re going to the final, di pwede ganun attitude mo. Parang yung pinaghirapan mo the whole season, mawawala lang sa final.
“I think now it’s about recovery for the players and the mental aspect is the most important thing now kasi yung final naman matagal pa,” he furthered.
Meanwhile, Libarnes scored a hattrick in just six minutes of play for FEU-D.
The 19-year-old forward from Cebu opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a penalty quick and he scored a quickfire double in the 39th and 40th minutes. He then completed his tally with a cool finish in the 75th minute.
“Well, Libarnes is expected to be scoring that way because he is a scoring machine from where we recruited him,” said Baby Tamaraws head coach Albert Besa.
“However, lately, he hasn’t been focusing on his last touch and he’s been rushing and missing so many easy goals. These four goals should boost him and we should see the scoring machine that he really is supposed to be,” he continued.
On the other hand, Ateneo captain Andres Gabriel Dumlao scored a consolation goal for the Blue Eagles in the 85th minute.
Ateneo, who only has a point in five matches, is now out of contention for the postseason and it is will finish in last place for the third season running.
FEU-D can enter the final and finish on top of the elimination round against UST this Friday.
The Junior Golden Booters upset the Baby Tamaraws 2-0 last January 28 and there will be more than just pride at stake for the latter this time.
“I believe it’s a must-win for us because if La Salle comes up with a win, they sneak in,” said Besa. “It’s good that we came from a convincing win so the momentum’s on our side.”
