Defending champion FEU-Diliman is raring to meet the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups in the finals of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior football tournament.
Head coach Park Bobae said this after the nine-time champion Baby Tamaraws pounced on miscues by the Bullpups to win, 2-0, last Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Sophomore Karl Absalon netted the Baby Tams’ second goal in the 58th minute off a penalty kick following a handball infraction.
They earlier took the lead in the 52nd minute off Bullpup Michael Baloyo’s own goal.
“I’m happy with the result. The players are following the system,” said Bobae.
The Baby Tamaraws, who finished with six wins and two draws, took the no. 1 spot going to the finals.
They will meet the Bullpups for the second straight season in the finals.
The Finals will be played on a later date after the league suspended all games as a precautionary measure against corona virus outbreak.
Earlier, De La Salle-Zobel prevailed over University of Santo Tomas, 2-0, to foil UST’s bid to force a playoff for the last finals seat.
Andres Aldeguer tried to score on free kick in the 17th minute, but it was deflected by UST goalie Carl Mesina,
But teammate Yuki Ferrer was around to send the ball back in to give the Juniors Archers a 1-0 edge.
The Junior Golden Booters tried to equalize after Ken Escobar got fouled in the box in the 33rd minute.
But Denzel Celebrado’s penalty kick went over the goal.
Then, Aldeguer, the son of former Green Archers basketball standout Dino Aldeguer, struck with the second marker before halftime to give La Salle Zobel and ample lead.