Maroons cop UAAP football title

MANILA, Philippines - University of the Philippines conquered University of Santo Tomas, 2-1, to capture the UAAP Season 73 men’s football title at the Erenchun field in Ateneo yesterday.

Armed with the twice-to-beat advantage in the finals, the Fighting Maroons banked on the strikes of Ghanaian Nii Aryee Ayi and top freshman Gerardo Valmayor to extinguish the hopes of the Tigers and cop UP’s second crown in three years.

“All the hard work and sacrifices of the boys paid off this year,” said UP coach Anto Gonzales, whose wards bounced back from a sorry stint last year that saw them forfeit three matches due to violation on rules on participation in another tournament en route to a sixth place finish.

“During the preparation for the UAAP, I just wanted to get back into the finals but the boys played superbly throughout the season and this title is an icing on the cake,” he added.

The Maroons were the only unbeaten team in the season, topping the elims with a 9-1-0 (win-draw-loss) to get the incentive in the finals.

Ayi, who was at the center of controversy last year when he played in the United Football League while the UAAP was ongoing, put UP on the scoreboard when he struck home in the 31st minute.

Taking possession of the leather after league MVP Stephen Permanes’ cross hit the chest of UST’s David Mark Basa, rookie sensation Valmayor knocked the leather in 20 minutes later to practically seal it for UP.

It was the ninth goal for the freshman out of La Salle-Greenhills in the tournament, earning for Valmayor the Best Striker plum.

“He’s really a talent,” Gonzales said of Valmayor, the 2010 NCAA juniors MVP. “He reminds me of Phil Younghusband, the way he holds on to the ball, his composure. He just needs more polishing.”