Quezon City: Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU) emerged victorious against De La Salle-Zobel (DLSZ) with a 2-0 win in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ football tournament, held at UP Diliman Stadium on Saturday night.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jacob Keleghan and Jerriemy Biton were the key players for FEU, with Keleghan breaking the deadlock in the 51st minute and Biton netting his ninth goal of the season in the 74th minute. FEU-D coach Jake Morallo expressed surprise at the match’s tactics, noting, “We didn’t anticipate that their way of playing would be different in formation and style.” Despite a challenging first half due to DLSZ’s aggressive play, FEU managed to secure the victory.
In spite of the loss, DLSZ advanced to the Final Four after Ateneo was defeated by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) with a score of 1-3. FEU leads the standings with 25 points, followed by UST with 22 points and DLSZ with 13 points.
Meanwhile, PAREF Southridge dominated Claret School of Quezon City, defeating them 3-0 to secure fourth place with 10 points. Kale Javier scored twice, in the 31st and 62nd minutes, while Francis Poticano sealed the victory with a goal in the 68th minute. Southridge’s coach, Sam Booney, highlighted the team’s preparation, stating, “We knew they would come up with a back five and we prepared for it. Everything we did in training showed up in the game.”
Looking ahead, Southridge and Ateneo, who are currently fifth with nine points, will face off for the final semifinals spot next Saturday. Booney emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, saying, “There will be a different strategy for Ateneo because we just need a draw to get into the Final Four. We have to do whatever it takes to get there.”