Ateneo claims top seed heading into men's football postseason

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament Standings  

*Ateneo 28 pts. (+21 GD)

*UP 26 (+22),

*FEU 24 (+21)

*UST 14 (-6)

DLSU 10 (-18)

UE 9 (-16)

AdU 9 (-24)

*Final Four

ATENEO de Manila University secured the top seed in the UAAP Season 87 Men's Football semifinals with a narrow 3-2 victory over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.

The win allowed the Blue Eagles to overtake the UP Fighting Maroons for the top spot, finishing the elimination round with 28 points and a +21 goal difference.

Despite their earlier 7-0 thrashing of the De La Salle Green Booters, the Fighting Maroons settled for second seed with 26 points and a +22 GD.

In the semifinals, Ateneo will face UST, which concluded the eliminations with 14 points and a -6 GD.

Meanwhile, UP will take on Far Eastern University, which amassed 24 points and a +21 GD, in a rematch of last season’s final, where the Fighting Maroons emerged victorious.

The Final Four clashes are scheduled for December 8 at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium, with kickoff times to be announced on Monday.

"We considered this as a game one. Most of their main players wala pa dun, like si (TJ) Garciano at si (Chris) Valderama. We’re looking forward to performing well sa semifinals, and we are ready for UST," said Ateneo head coach JP Merida on facing the Golden Booters again.

Ateneo had to step up in the second half to clinch the top spot.

Dov Cariño delivered an equalizer with a volley header in the 58th minute, assisted by a cross from Ryen Lim. He then added his 11th goal of the season in the 67th minute, solidifying his bid for the league’s top scorer and lifting the Blue Eagles' morale.

Leo Maquiling provided an insurance goal in the 70th minute to give Ateneo breathing room.

“Going into this match, there was a plan for us, especially from the coaching staff. Of course, we needed to wait for the results of UP and DLSU, so after that, we adjusted our tactics, but the starting eleven stayed the same. We were good in the first fifteen minutes, but I think set pieces yung kailangan i-improve, kaya we conceded a goal,” added Merida.

UST’s Richard Songalia opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a stunning long-range strike.

Later in the match, John Patrick Baito cut Ateneo’s lead with a goal in the 83rd minute, giving the Growling Tigers a renewed sense of urgency.

UST came close to equalizing in the 86th minute when Kristien Elopre took a dangerous free kick, but Ateneo keeper Artus Cezar made a crucial save to preserve the Blue Eagles' advantage.

The stage is now set for a high-stakes rematch between Ateneo and UST in the semifinals, with a spot in the championship game hanging in the balance.