Ateneo secured a commanding 4-0 victory over De La Salle to clinch the first Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament, thanks to standout performances from Dov Cariño and goalkeeper Artus Cezar.
The rivalry match took place Thursday at the UP Football Stadium, where the Blue Eagles solidified their position atop the standings with 24 points.
Cariño, who leads the league in scoring, increased his goal tally to nine with two more goals, while Cezar kept a clean sheet to shut down La Salle’s offense.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Of course, like I told the team, we needed this win to secure the top four. But the UAAP Season 87 eliminations aren’t done yet—we still have a few more games to play, and we’re looking to perform and improve even more. We’re very happy because we controlled the game from start to finish,” said Ateneo coach JP Merida.
Joaquin Collo got Ateneo on the board with a goal in the 16th minute and later assisted Fernando Roxas’ strike in the 87th minute.
Cariño, who had assisted Collo’s opener, scored his first goal in the 36th minute from a Leo Maquiling cross, then doubled his tally in first-half added time, putting Ateneo up 3-0.
With the game well in hand, Cariño was substituted in the 74th minute.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Of course, we believe in Dov Cariño,” Merida added. “Coming off the previous game, we made adjustments to his position because we need to take care of him. I know other schools are planning around him.”
In goal, Cezar made several brilliant saves in the second half, denying La Salle any chance to break through.
De La Salle remains in fifth place with 10 points, trailing the University of Santo Tomas by three points after UST played to a scoreless draw with Far Eastern University earlier in the day.
The Blue Eagles are set to face FEU on Nov. 21, while De La Salle will go up against defending champion University of the Philippines on Sunday. (TJ)
