Maria Gerona, Rojana Nemenzo, and Pia Jumamoy kept University of Santo Tomas’ UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Final Four hopes alive, combining to lead the Lady Booters to a 3-0 victory over National University on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Gerona opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a right-footed finish before Nemenzo doubled UST’s lead in the 62nd minute with an Olimpico, curling her corner kick directly into the net.
Jumamoy, a rookie out of St. Theresa’s College of Cebu, capped the victory with a 71st-minute tap-in to complete the Lady Booters’ 3-0 shutout.
“Well, we did better in the second half,” said coach Marjo Allado. “We changed the tempo, pati ‘yung attitude ng player, because in the last 20 minutes of the first half, ‘yung NU, may clear chances.
“Credit to the players na ‘yung dynamics ng laro, nagpalit—’yung energy, ‘yung desire na maka-score sila. So, we’re fighting for the Final Four,” Allado beamed.
The victory replicated UST’s 3-0 first-round triumph over NU on September 26. The Lady Bulldogs had opportunities to change the complexion of the match early on, but Steffanie Escalante and Jashmine Fernandez failed to capitalize on key scoring chances.
UST improved to eight points to remain in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Ateneo de Manila University. NU, meanwhile, remained winless at the bottom of the standings.
Both teams will close out the elimination round on Wednesday in crucial matchups with major Final Four implications.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
UST takes on the University of the Philippines at 2:00 p.m., needing a victory to keep its semifinal hopes alive and put pressure on Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles will then face the Lady Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m., knowing they may need a win of their own if UST prevails. Should the Lady Booters and Ateneo finish level on 11 points, a playoff would be required to determine the final semifinal berth.
“Of course, ayoko na ‘yung last game will be our last game in this elimination round, kasi bilog ‘yung bola sa football, pero ‘di naman natin ‘yun control,” said Allado.
“Pero focus lang kami sa UP para makakuha kami ng three points. Especially, this team, may mga new player; motivation sa kanila. Going through sa last game namin against UP, kailangan namin ‘yung attitude namin sa second half like this game, kasi ‘pag hindi ganun ‘yung attitude namin, UP will beat us again,” he closed.
