University of Santo Tomas bounced back in a big way, pulling off a 1-0 squeaker over defending champion University of the Philippines to end a 12-match winless spell Thursday night in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate men’s football tournament at the UP Football Stadium.
Goalkeeper Jose Miguel Abada played a crucial role by delivering his first clean sheet of the season, as UST successfully thwarted UP’s attempts to equalize in the second half.
Kyler Escobar scored the match’s only goal in the 28th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by UP keeper Alfonso Gonzales.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“All credits sa players kase naglaro sila ng all heart, talagang buhos sila. Yung mga tacticals nila nandun tsaka yung mga sinasabi ni Coach Marjo (Allado) sinunod,” said Golden Booters assistant coach Arman Esteban.
This victory was particularly sweet for UST as it came after a 1-2 loss to University of the East last Sunday.
Since then, UST had experienced nine losses and three draws against UP.
“Nag-step up sila matapos ang pagkatalo nila sa huling laro sa UE. Talagang nag-step up ang mga players dahil gusto nilang makabawi at manalo, lalo na laban sa UP na ilang taon nang hindi nila natalo. Kaya’t kahit papaano, ngayon, nakagawa na ng kwento ang mga bata na nanalo sila against UP,” Esteban expressed.
UP, which lost several key players from last year’s championship run—including Season 86 MVP Francis Tacardon and defender Giap Bongolan—squandered numerous opportunities to level the score in a tough rematch of the Season 86 semifinal.
UST will next face De La Salle on October 6.
Meanwhile, UP will go up against Adamson University on October 3 when the league resumes after a break.
