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| c/o UAAP Media Team |
UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Standings
*FEU-D 22 points (+17)
*UST 19 points (+12)
DLSZ 13 points (+3)
Ateneo 9 points (-4)
Southridge 7 points (-4)
x Claret 0 points (-26)
*Final Four
x Eliminated
Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium
2 p.m. —UST vs Ateneo
4:30 p.m. — SRG vs CSQC
7 p.m. — DLSZ vs FEU-D
Fresh from holding defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman to a draw last week, PAREF Southridge broke further ground in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament, overcoming De La Salle Zobel 2-1 in a thrilling all-Muntinlupa duel Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Francis Poticano was the hero once again, scoring a second-half brace and improving his personal tally to four goals this year to help Southridge increase its tally to seven points in fifth place—just two behind fourth-placed Ateneo de Manila University with two matches left in the eliminations.
Southridge also earned its first-ever victory in against a UAAP member team, a remarkable feat for one of the two guest teams competing this season.
“Oh, that’s class,” said the Admirals’ Ghanian coach Sam Bonney. “We've been working on it for for months now. It's so unlucky that when the tournament started, (Poticano) was not getting that movement and the clear shots, but we know his quality and what he can do. So him scoring these goals, it's not a surprise for me. I know he can do it since he's been doing it in practice, just that it's not getting in the game but today he was able to find the back of the net.”
Southridge’s postseason hopes were further strengthened when FEU-D bounced back from last week’s disappointment by edging Ateneo 1-0 to return to winning ways.
Poticano unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box in the 64th minute to give the Admirals a priceless lead against the Junior Archers, who played without the suspended Bacchus Ekberg due to his yellow card accumulation.
The 16-year-old winger then gave Southridge breathing room in the 80th minute by scoring into an open goal after La Salle goalkeeper Jacob Salavante made the mistake of leaving his box too early.
While Renz Partosa pulled a goal back for the Junior Archers in the 81st minute, it was a case of too little to late as the Admirals held on to continue their Final Four push.
“The main goal here is to get to the top four,” said Bonney. “I mean, we started last week and then this week also we were able to come back again with a win. So definitely we are looking up to our next week game against Claret and then let's see what the game has for us.”
Before the Southridge-La Salle game, there was a minute of silence for Rosalyn Lariosa, who was the mom of one of the Junior Archers.
Held to a draw last week by the Admirals, the Baby Tamaraws did them a favor by defeating the Blue Eagles 1-0.
FEU-D captain Francis Sambaan scored the game’s only goal in the 77th minute from close range in a set-piece play as league topscorer Jerriemy Biton started off the bench and came on for Nash Abrenica in the 60th minute.
“Masaya kami sa (pag) bounce back namin from (the) Southridge game,” said Baby Tamaraws coach Jake Morallo. “Almost the same concept sila sa defending, nag-lo-low-block, sobrang mahirap i-penetrate but then nagawan parin ng paraan na at naka-score kami.”
“Although lahat key players, yung plan namin is kailangan muna ibabad muna namin mga subs din namin. Nung game against Southridge, medyo masama yung game (at) di maganda yung pinakita nila ni Biton and other starters namin. I thought it was time na mabigyan chance ung mga subs namin.”
FEU-D remained in first place with 22 points followed by second-placed University of Santo Tomas with 19 points.
In third place with 13 points, La Salle needs at least a point in its next two matches to earn a place in the Final Four.
Meanwhile, the nightcap game saw UST defeat Claret School of Quezon City 1-0.
Justin Aque scored the game’s only goal in the 16th minute with a cool finish from within close range.
Come the second half, substitute Yuan Maniscan spurned several chances to double the Junior Golden Booters’ lead while Red Roosters striker Rolando Torres saw his free kicks routinely saved by goalkeeper Marco Jalog.
Despite getting the win, UST assistant coach David Basa felt that the Junior Golden Booters had much to improve on in the final third.
“Syempre nakulangan pa kami sa goals,” said Basa. “Kailangan ng boys talaga maging lethal inside the penalty area. “Sana makuha nila ung rhythm nila and yung confidence sa goal. Sa defenders namin, syempre meron tayo lapses eh. Kailangan namin i-remind na every game hangga’t di pa tapos, di pa last whistle, kailangan yung concentration, yung focus mo nandun. Once nawala ka sa game, nagkakaroon ng chances ang kalaban.”
Still bottom of the standings and yet to tally a point, Claret is eliminated from Final Four contention.
