Saturday, February 6, 2016

UAAP college football kicks off tomorrow

Match Saturday at Moro Lorenzo Football Field:

3pm FEU-Diliman vs Ateneo

Matches Sunday at McKinley-Hill Stadium:

130pm – FEU vs UP (M)
4pm – Ateneo vs La Salle (W)
630pm – La Salle vs Ateneo (M)

The attempt for the treble treble for Far Eastern University is in full swing this weekend.

The Baby Tamaraws will aim to defend their HS football title for the sixth time this afternoon at the Moro Lorenzo Field against the Blue Eaglets at the Moro Lorenzo Field.

FEU-Diliman secured a finals berth by winning all of its matches in the four-team double round robin, capping things with a 4-2 victory over these same Blue Eaglets last week.

In spite of Saturday's loss, Ateneo managed to make a return trip to the finals with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over La Salle-Zobel last Wednesday at the same venue.

Joaquin Roque had given Ateneo a 1-0 just before halftime, while Marco Ibana forced extra time for the Junior Archers at the death, four minutes past second half stoppage time. No goals took place during the two 15-minute extensions.

It was then up to keepers Gavin Rosario and Francis Tiamco to set the table in penalties. Rosario saved Jed Bode's and Ibana's attempts to provide Ateneo some breathing room. And while Tianco saved Sancho Vicente's attempt, Manuel Cruel opened the shootout scoring by sending the Zobel keeper to the left and scoring on the right.

Juan Miguel Basmayor and Edward Acervida kept Zobel in the matchup, but Jonathan Talbot and Kenneth Soriano managed to ensure Ateneo remained ahead.

And when John Herbosa's attempt hit the crossbar and went top-down without crossing the line, it was there that Ateneo finally secured the 3-2 shootout win.

Just as these high schoolers end their football season, their collegiate brethren take to the turf at Taguig tomorrow to kickstart their season.

The Tamaraws open their attempt on the three-peat against nemesis UP at 130pm in a Final Four rematch.

The defending champions suffered a setback this past week, as Arnel Amita incurred a knee injury that will keep him out for the season. It will be up to recent national team call-up Paolo Bugas and the returning Chy Villasenor to holding things together, alongside their solid attacking core of Eric Giganto, Val Jurao, and Nicolas Ferrer.

The Maroon booters won't be easy opposition, even with the departure of veterans Jinggoy Valmayor, Kobe Ochoa, and Albert Yatco.

Anto Gonzales' squad still features a solid group of standouts up and down the pitch, from Ace Villanueva, to Patxi Santos, Ian Clarino and Feb Baya, and to the likes of Daniel Gadia and Vincent Aguilar.

The Unigames champions will not be lacking in inspiration, as the entire football program has dedicated this season to their fallen teammate Rogie Maglinas, who passed away on Tuesday due to complications from his cancer, just days before his 20th birthday.

The other men's matchup sees the other Final Four rematch, as rivals Ateneo and La Salle face off at 630pm.

The lone women's football matchup sees Ateneo and La Salle tangle at 4pm.

Televised men's football on ABS-CBN Sports+Action will commence on Thursday at the Moro Lorenzo Field, as the remaining four teams yet to play get themselves involved, as UST faces Adamson at 1pm, followed by NU against UE at 3pm.

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