Charisa Lemoran’s fine form continues as she scored her eighth goal this season to save the University of Santo Tomas Lady Booters a 2-2 draw against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
Cleofe (45+3′) and Lemoran (83′) struck late goals in each half to deny the Lady Eagles, who were looking to bounce back after three successive losses, as Cam Rodriguez’s (21′ & 58) brace wasn’t enough to give Ateneo the win today at the Far Eastern University-Diliman field.
“Pababa ang performance ng mga bata,” commented UST coach Prescila Rubio. “Siguro nakaka-overwhelm yung success for us kasi success na yung nangyari sa first round. So ngayon hindi pa kami maka get-over. Kailangan kami bumalik sa zero para umangat ulit yung performance namin.”
Coming back from a loss last week, UST sought to set things right from the opening whistle. Ateneo goalkeeper Marie Caparros was a marked woman all throughout the period, as the Lady Booters bombarded her goal time and time again.
Caparros had to stay alert to thwart Hazel Lustan, Lemoran, and Cleofe, as UST’s offensive play forced holes in the Ateneo defense. A goal was coming, although it came at opposite end.
Against the run of play, Ateneo opened the scoring in the 21st minute, when Rodriguez turned in a Nona Amoncio corner kick to allow the Lady Eagles to draw first blood. Despite the setback, the Lady Booters still held their heads up.
UST still pounded Ateneo’s goal, and Cleofe should have scored if not for the crossbar. Nevertheless, Cleofe finally got the goal UST deserved when she broke away from the Ateneo defense and shot past Caparros at the 45+3 minute.
Upon the game’s resumption, it was Ateneo who showed the initiative in crunch time. Rodriguez led the Lady Eagles at the front as she forced a routine catch from UST goalie Nicole Reyes and had a shot which hit the crossbar.
Rodriguez finally got her due in the the 58th minute when she tapped the ball into the net to regain the lead for Ateneo.
It was a case of déjà vu for the Lady Booters, as they had to work all over again to get that equalizer. What helped their cause was that the Lady Eagles played mistakenly deep in order to seal the win.
Unfortunately for the Lady Eagles, their haphazard low block invited pressure from the Lady Booters, and a fantastic strike from Lemoran made it 2-2 in the 83rd minute. There were no more goals, as the post denied Ateneo substitute Gabby Esguerra the winning shot.
The contest ended 2-2, and the result did dampened Ateneo’s hopes of finally making it to the finals this season. In contrast, UST are still very much in control of their own destiny.
“Yung coaching staff pati ako sobrang disappointed sa team. Dalawang beses kaming binigyan ng UST sa first half at second half, then wala namang instruction na after we lead na kami by one or two or three na go for defending. Wala naman eh. Nandun na eh. Binibigyan na kami ng chance. Ang hirap tanggapin,” shared Ateneo coach JP Merida.
Ateneo (7 points) shall face league leaders De La Salle University on March 29, 3:30 PM, while UST (10 points) shall face the Far Eastern University on April 19, 3:30 PM. Both games will be held at the FEU-Diliman field.
ADMU XI: Amoncio, Bernardo, Caparros, Catedrilla N, Catedrilla M, Diaz, Ong, Rodriguez, Sabio, Siy, Velasco
UST XI: Cadag, Cleofe, Cuaresma. Eusebio, Ilan, Indac, Lemoran, Lopez, Lustan, Reyes, Sanchez
