ONE STEP backward, two steps forward.
And the ploy worked as the UST Golden Booters, overcoming a shaky first round campaign, rode on an eight-game winning splurge to land fourth place overall in the 4th Ang Liga Football Cup.
Despite missing the services of its top players due to conflicting final examination schedules in their 0-3 loss against San Beda College last Oct. 11, UST pummeled all its opponents with an average margin of 2.44 points a game en route to a 13-6-1 win-loss-draw slate, a marked improvement form its 4-5-1 record back in the first round.
Reinforced by a slew of talented newcomers, the Golden Booters enjoyed the luxury of a deeper bench which enabled coach Marjo Allado to rest his veteran wards during the latter stages of each game.
The resilient Golden Booters amassed 41 points behind the 46-point output of eventual champion Philippine Army, while second and third placers Philippine Air Force and San Beda College garnered 44 markers apiece at the end of the 11-team annual event.
“Our team’s readiness for the UAAP has just become evident each time we won in convincing fashion,” Allado told the Varsitarian.
True to Allado’s words, the Golden Booters capped the final elimination round assignment with a flourish in their 3-0 annihilation of the Philippine Christian University (PCU)-Cheng Hua last Oct. 15 at the UST Football Field.
Prior to annexing the second chapter of its heated encounter with PCU, UST secured a long-delayed victory against the Dolphins.
The tournament’s technical committee penalized PCU last Sept. 1 for abandoning the match due to alleged biased officiating with still 10 minutes left and UST ahead, 2-1.
Four days after scalping Season 68 UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila University via default last Oct. 8, the Golden Booters rampaged past the Mendiola Football Club, 3-0 on Oct. 11 at their home turf.
Mighty comeback
Sporting a recharged offensive game, the Golden Booters also heaped vengeance on tournament favorites Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force.
UST capitalized on the Air Force’s erratic passing and sluggish defensive adjustment in the second half to carve a 4-2 humdinger last Sept. 10. The Golden Booters then carried the momentum in their 4-1 trouncing of the Army last Sept. 13 at the UST Football Field.
Earlier, the Golden Booters relieved their payback chores in a 3-0 whitewash of the EDSA Football Club last Sept. 20.
Veteran striker Adrian Guillermo broke the scoring lull for the Golden Booters in the 66th minute when he streaked past three EDSA defenders in a right-flank ball scramble before nailing the pivotal goal against the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Paul Ybañez for a 1-0 UST edge.
Later in the 78th minute, UST’s Lordjay Legpitan rifled a shot in front of EDSA’s six-yard box to pad the lead, 2-0. The Golden Booters settled the issue in the 85th minute on Guillermo’s own goal that finally erased the stigma of UST’s 1-1 first game standoff against EDSA last July 1.
UST, meanwhile, reasserted its mastery over the College of St. Benilde (CSB), 6-1, last Sept. 24.
With its midfield defensive locks taking their toll on the Blazers’ ball-handlers, UST effectively defused CSB as early as the first half for a 3-1 lead that virtually sealed the match for the España-based crew.
The Golden Booters’ winning trajectory in the second phase of competition got off to a jackrabbit start with a 3-0 manhandling of the University of the East last Sept. 9 at their own bailiwick. Anthony Andrew G. Divinagracia
