THE UST Golden Booters fell short of advancing in the postseason once again, suffering a 2-1 loss against the top-seeded Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 men’s football tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 8.
With the loss, the Golden Booters ended their Season 87 campaign outside the podium and in fourth place, a downgrade from their bronze-medal finish last year.
“Medyo disappointed kaming mga coaches. We wanted to see more effort sana sa players lalo na sa second half … Kung puwede lang sana namin itulak lang din sila sa field,” said UST head coach Marjo Allado.
“Lumabas pagiging bata ng team. Hindi namin nakita ‘to last year, pero ngayon lumabas.”
Leo Maquilling opened the scoring for Ateneo with a goal in the 13th minute off a well-placed cross from Miguel Benson to put the Blue Eagles up 1-0 early.
In the final minute of the first half, Kyler Ken Escobar connected the equalizer, taking advantage of a second ball off a corner kick to knot the game 1-all at halftime.
After back-and-forths at the start of the second half, Jet de la Cruz nailed the go-ahead connection in the 70th minute courtesy of a header that caught UST goalkeeper Miguel Abada off guard, giving Ateneo the 2-1 edge.
Escobar had a chance to level with Ateneo once more in the 72nd minute, but his attempt went straight to the Blue Eagles’ goalkeeper.
Garciano also had looks in the 81st and 92nd minute, but both went to no avail.
The Golden Booters fired 13 shots in the game, two more than the Blue Eagles.
“‘Yong character lumabas ngayon. ‘Yon ‘yong dahilan talaga na talagang hindi namin nagawa ngayong season,” Allado said.
Ateneo will face the FEU Tamaraws in the finals. FEU defeated the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons earlier on Sunday.
UST ended the eliminations with a 4-6-2 win-loss-draw record.
