After a shaky first-round experience, the University of the Philippines (UP) Men’s Football Team remains unblemished in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 Football Tournament after a commanding 6-1 victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Booters last Nov. 24 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Aside from avenging their 0-1 season opener loss to UST, UP has locked in the third seed and a spot in the Final Four.
Reigning Rookie of the Year and Golden Boot recipient Ramil Bation III led the State U demolition job after scoring the league’s second hat trick of the season within the first half of play.
“Compared to [the] last game, ‘yung chances namin na-take namin kaagad [for this one],” said the sophomore in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel, in relation to their previous 1-0 encounter with the Adamson Soaring Falcons. “‘Di rin namin in-expect na mananalo kami [nang ganto kalaki] and makaka-score kami ng six this game, especially against UST.”
Bation opened the scoring gates for both teams at the 17th minute with a point-blank shot against UST goalkeeper Jose Abada inside the box.
The yellow shirts were quick to retaliate, with Jarred Regis converting from a corner kick 28 minutes in to bring the game to an even state.
Maroon captain Macky Tobias brought back the lead to the Diliman-based squad at the 30th minute, coming off a solid pass from Lorenz Tortona, before Bation darted back-to-back goals to secure a 4-1 advantage by halftime.
UP’s relentless pursuit continued early in the second half, with Tortona blasting his first score of the season at the 50th minute.
Rookie standout Joses Azur puts the final nail in the coffin with a crisp header at the 54th minute, putting the Golden Booters away for good.
After registering their best offensive outing so far this season, Tobias had nothing but praise on how the young squad performed.
“Kudos sa teammates ko ngayon lalo na ‘yung mga bata (rookies), kung grabe ‘yung [effort] talaga nila, pag nagkakamali ako as a captain salo talaga nila ako,” said Tobias in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
The maroon skipper ensured that the team would not give any room for complacency as they prepare for their last two games heading to the Final Four.
“Paa pa rin sa lupa. Trabaho lang talaga. And of course, since ‘yung schedule namin sobrang tight, so manage ng pahinga and then trabaho ulit.”
The UP MFT will enter their penultimate second-round fixture with a five-game winning streak as they lock horns with last year’s finalists FEU Tamaraws on Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. at the same venue.
