Ateneo, FEU to face off in finals of 70th UAAP football

The Ateneo de Manila University and the Far Eastern University men’s football teams set themselves up for a finals showdown in the 70th UAAP men’s football tournament after eliminating their respective foes in during crucial encounters at the Erenchum Field at the Ateneo de Manila on Sunday. With their victories, the Blue Eagles and the Tamaraws set themselves to a best-of-three finals battle which will start on Valentine's Day also at the Erenchum field at 3 p.m. The trip towards the finals, however, was not a walk in the park for the Blue booters. They had to go through the eye of the needle before coming out with a 1-1 deadlock against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Ateneo captain Gerard Cancio saved the day for the Eagles with a goal in the 87th minute when Maroon keeper Jose Maria Mendezona cleared out to take on the attacking Cancio near the perimeter of the penalty box. The 20-year old then simply flicked the ball out the goalie's reach as it gradually rolled into the back of the net, adding dramatics in an already heartstopping match-up. "Everybody wants to beat Ateneo. We expected that from the start," Atene coach Arnulfo Merida said. "We will go for the win for the twice-to-beat advantage." Other men's matches As this developed, the FEU football team booted last year's champs the University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters, 3-1, in their encounter also at the Ateneo football field. Francis Gustillo and Jovanie Simpron scored successive goals in the 65th and 68th minutes to turn the tide into the favor of the Tamaraws. Simpron added another goal three minute before the end of regulation after Sorito Judal stroked one in for UST in the 79th minute. In the other men's football match, De La Salle University finally got to taste victory, by beating the University of the East (UE), 1-0. Kevin Cezar Deano kicked in the game-winner in the 76th minute. Women's matches In women's football, both Ateneo de Manila and UST inched closer to the second finals slot. Ateneo downed UP, 4-0, while UST struck gold against FEU, 2-0. The Taft-based squad would go for broke against their Katipunan counterparts on February 13, while the Tigresses have an easier assignment, facing UP that same afternoon. Ateneo holds a two-goal advantage in goal difference against the España-based campus. In juniors action, the the De La Salle Zobel beat the excrement out of Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation, 9-0, and Ateneo High School made short work of the Tiger Cubs, 8-0. - GMANews.TV