Junior Golden Booters finals hopes diminish with loss to DLSZ
By Joie Timbas
The UST Junior Golden Booters championship chances went down as they lost to the DLSZ Junior Archers, 1–3, to start the second round of the UAAP Season 85 boys’ football tournament, held Sunday evening at the UP Diliman Football Field.
The boys from España went scoreless in the first half of play as opposed to Zobel’s Jian Caraig, who scored as early as the 4th minute mark which became the first of his two goals in the match.
Not too long before another goal came for the Junior Archers, this time it was from Alonso Aguilar who scored at the 22nd minute.
After halftime, tension ensued as UST’s assistant coach David Basa received a yellow card for complaining to the referees on a non-call for a penalty.
UST’s Dominic Tom breathed life into the Junior Golden Booters with a goal at the 66th minute. However, Caraig once again made his presence at the 70th minute mark, which turned out to be the last goal of the match.
Earlier in the day, the unscathed FEU-D Baby Tamarraws punched the Ateneo Blue Eagles out of finals contention. Meanwhile, this loss of the University sent the Junior Archers a step closer to the Finals.
La Salle can book a trip to the Finals if they can at least earn a draw against Ateneo, who has yet to find their first win in the season.
On the same day, UST will try to give the defending champions FEU-D their first loss of the season.
These matchups will happen next Saturday, a first in this season as the juniors’ games will clash with the opening weekend of the UAAP collegiate football tournament.
