THE UST Golden Booters suffered a crushing loss against the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons, 6-1 in the UAAP men’s football eliminations on Sunday, Nov. 24, at the UP Football Stadium.
UP stayed at the third seed with 22 points, while UST remained at the fourth spot with 14 points.
The Fighting Maroons set the tone early in the match as Ramil Bation III found the back of the net in the 17th minute.
UST’s center-back Jarred Regis responded by converting a corner kick from midfielder Archie Belluga in the 28th minute, tying the match at 1-all.
In the 30th minute, UP’s offense gained full steam after team captain Marc Tobias fired one into the back of the net to extend their lead to 2-1.
The Diliman-based squad’s forward Bation completed his hat-trick after nailing back-to-back strikes in the 40th and 42nd minutes to build a three-point cushion, 4-1.
In the second half, the Fighting Maroons continued to boast their offensive firepower after midfielder Lorenz Tortona struck a goal in the 50th minute. Forward Joses Azur followed it up with a goal four minutes later, 6-1.
The España-based squad tried to push for a goal, but the deficit was too much to overcome as center-back John Selarde was held off the field with an injury.
“I think UP came very prepared for the second round because they really want to bounce back… They focused a lot on tactics and strength, and they prepared well against us,” Coach Arman Esteban told The Flame.
“Right now, it’s time to rest, but we need to wake up and bring back the pride of the team and the school so we can make it to the Final Four,” he added.
UST will look to bounce back in their final game of the season to secure a spot in the semifinals as they square up against top-seeded Ateneo Blue Eagles on Dec. 1, at the same venue. F – with reports from Mc Neil Zyh Serrano
