Ateneo, UP grab share of first place in UAAP football

Matches Saturday (Moro Lorenzo Football Field, Ateneo):

4 p.m. – UST vs FEU (women)

6 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (men)

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo and University of the Philippines forced a three-way tie in first place after prevailing over their separate foes Thursday in the UAAP Season 77 men's football tournament at the FEU Diliman pitch.

Using their impressive free kicks, the Blue Eagles downed University of Santo Tomas, 3-2, while Jinggoy Valmayor struck on the 70th minute from a Vince Aguilar assist as the Fighting Maroons downed National University, 1-0.       

Ateneo and UP joined defending champion Far Eastern University on top of the table with seven points. The Bulldogs stayed with four points to crash out of the magic four.      

It was Valmayor's fourth goal of the season, tying ace Tamaraws striker Eric Giganto on top of the scoring tally.       

Coach JP Merida, who steered the Blue Eagles to a championship two years ago, praised his troops for following the game plan to the dot.      

"Yung mga set plays namin, hindi sinasayang. Nakukuha ng mga players. Parang almost subtle mga goals namin since galing sa mga set plays," said Merida.            

Ateneo rookie Julian Roxas opened the scoring with 43rd minute goal from a Mikko Mabanag free kick.        

The Growling Tigers then leveled at 1-1 on a 63rd minute strike by Efren Menares after Eagles goalkeeper Jose Oracion committed a defensive lapse.       

Mabanag then was as it again, as the Eagles skipper brilliantly set up Emilio Acosta's header to regain the upperhand.

Ateneo then made it a 3-1 advantage on the 84th minute own goal by UST's Norwyn Ortañez after he was one step ahead of Acosta, who was unsuccessful in scoring another header.        

The Tigers, who remained without a point, pulled back one on a Steven Anotado goal before fulltime but fell short in forcing a draw.

"Ang hindi lang maganda sa result is naka-score ang UST. Medyo kinabahan ako doon sa last four minutes," said Merida.

The Eagles got a break on the 26th minute, as Jean Clariño's nearly scored for the Tigers, as his goal bounced the post before Oracion was able to recover the ball.