University of Santo Tomas continued its up-and-down campaign by outclassing University of the East 6-1 in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Midfielder Andrew Ramos started the rout for the Golden Booters with a cool finish 18 minutes into the match while Chris Valderama doubled the lead in the 38th minute off a pass from Tarshish Jacob Garciano.
Archie John Belluga then wrapped up the first half with a free-kick goal in the 43rd minute.
Come the second half, midfielder Jan Patrick Baito put in UST’s fourth goal of the match in the 65th minute.
Substitutes Kyler Ken Escobar and Richard Songalia completed the tally in the 74th- and 81st-minute, respectively.
“Inconsistent and up and down yung record namin pero na-address naman yung mistakes laban sa Ateneo,” said coach Marjo Allado. “We had 20 shots tapos it’s useless kasi wala namang pumasok.
“Dito sa game against UE, at least kahit papano, yung attempts namin na-convert namin into goals. Yun nga yung sinasabi namin sa team: kung may opportunity ka, take it,” he continued.
Thanks to its big win, UST temporarily rose to second in the standings with 6 points and a goal difference of plus-4 behind two wins and two losses as De La Salle University and University of the Philippines are playing as of press time.
The Golden Booters will try to win two straight matches for the first time this season against the Green Booters on March 14 at 2 p.m. on the same pitch.
“Walang kaba. Every year, naglalaro kami against La Salle so gawin lang namin kung ano yung dapat gawin against La Salle kasi at this moment, nasa momentum,” said Allado.
UE captain Nikko Palacio’s penalty in the 83rd minute served as the only bright spark for the Red Warriors in the match.
The Red Warriors remained in sixth place with three points and a minus-8 goal difference after one win and three losses
Up next for UE is a date against defending champion Far Eastern University this Sunday at 4 p.m. at the same venue.
UST XI: Abada (C), Ramos, Alegre, Baito, Jubac, Belluga, Selarde, Valderama, Vercide, Garciano, Regis.
UE XI: Tambilawan (GK), Magallon, Palacio (C), Tupaz, Ebbah, Mariveles, Resuma, Madrid, Abarca, Maghinay, Adonis.
