UP advances to UAAP Men's Football Final

c/o UAAP

The University of the Philippines outlasted the University of Santo Tomas in the second semifinal of the UAAP Season 86 Men's Football Tournament late Thursday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

With the match already into the sudden-death portion of the shootout, Angelo Pagdanganan converted on his spot kick, whilst Francis Jay Vercide's attempt hit the post and went out, putting the Maroons through, 8-7.

UP started the shootout off on the wrong foot after CJ Donato misfired on his chance, but true freshman Alfonso Gonzalez stepped up massively with a denial of Andrew Gregg Ramos' kick to keep things level at 3.

Both sides would then convert their tries until Vercide's moment.

The match ended 1-1 after a Francis Tacardon goal for the Fighting Maroons just before the halftime break and an equalizer by TJ Garciano in the 57th minute. Both teams were unable to break the deadlock during the thirty-minute extra time, setting up the shootout heroics.

The triumph sends UP back into the title picture after falling short of the postseason last year, which interrupted a string of seven finals appearances in the last eleven seasons that included four championships.

First-year mentor Popoy Clarino is grateful for the support. He shares, "Of course, we want to give back to the UP community. It was our way of showing appreciation to them. With the support they have given us, we've given our best inside the field, offering ourselves."

The long-time assistant to Anto Gonzales adds, "It's good to be back in the finals, but the job is not yet done. FEU is a very strong team, championship-caliber. They have lots of natural players. We are looking forward to the finals. We go back, we rest first, then, we prepare for the Finals on May 16."

The Diliman-based side will be gunning for its 19th UAAP title against the defending champions, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, next Thursday at 5 p.m. in the same Malate stadium.

The Tamaraws narrowly escaped the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles earlier in the night with a 2-1 extra-time victory in the other semifinal match.

Carlo Fernandez and Carlos Orale bid farewell to the UST Golden Booters, who will finish third this season.