The UST Junior Golden Booters begin their Season 87 campaign on a high note after dominating the PAREF Southridge Admirals, 5-2, in the UAAP boys’ football tournament at the UP Diliman Football Pitch on Saturday, Jan. 18. (Photo by Karla Louise B. Maningas/ The Varsitarian)

THE UST Junior Golden Booters had a dominant start to their Season 87 campaign after spoiling the debut of guest team PAREF Southridge Admirals, 5-2, in the UAAP juniors football tournament at the UP Diliman Football Pitch on Saturday, Jan. 18. 

Junior Golden Booters River Solis and James Sunog each netted a brace in UST’s dominant first half. While the Admirals mounted a comeback in the second half, it was too late to overturn the deficit.

“Si Solis, excited siya kasi last year residency siya so parang nakita namin na gusto niya agad ipakita ‘yong laro niya ngayon,” UST assistant coach David Basa told the Varsitarian.

“Si Sunog, magandang impact siya today. Malaking help ‘yong ganitong contributions sa team, especially gusto namin magandang start,” he added. 

Sunog scored the Junior Golden Booters’ first goal in the 23rd minute before completing the brace in the 40th minute.

Meanwhile, Solis scored a brace in his UST debut after finding the net in the 26th and 43rd minutes to give the Junior Golden Booters a 4-0 lead.

PAREF Southridge, one of the two guest schools in Season 87 along with Claret School of Quezon City, found the net courtesy of a Francis Poticano conversion in the final minute of the first half. 

Joshua Balliner netted UST’s lone goal in the second half in the 66th minute. 

Joziah Rance answered in the 71st minute to narrow the gap for the Admirals. 

“Sa second half, medyo may kaba kasi first game pero pinapaalalahanan naman namin sila ever since the offseason na huwag kakabahan and ipakita lang ang laro nila,” Basa said. 

With the win, UST earned three points to kick off the tournament. 

UST will next face the DLSZ Junior Green Booters on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the same venue. 

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