UP booters secure twice-to-beat incentive in UAAP finals

University of the Philippines (UP) clinched the twice-to-beat incentive in the UAAP men’s football tournament championship after the Fighting Maroons defeated University of Santo Tomas, 2-0, Thursday at the Ateneo Erenchun field. Jay Eusebio got the first goal in the 29th minute before rookie striker Jinggoy Valmayor scored on a free kick from the right flank in the 53rd minute as the Fighting Maroons kept their unbeaten mark with 25 points after eight wins and a draw. “It would be less pressure for us in the finals, that’s how I see it," said UP coach Anto Gonzales, downplaying the twice-to-beat advantage. UP's win denied UST of an outright finals berth. The Tigers had 17 points after five wins, two draws and two losses. UST's loss also opened the doors for La Salle's aspirations of clinching a finals slot, this after the Green Archers beat University of the East, 2-0. Alberto Bustamante and Fedricco Rabaga scored in the 43rd and 90th minutes, respectively, as the Green Archers improved to 16 points with 4-4-1 win-draw-loss. But La Salle will need to beat UP on Sunday, the final day of the elimination round, while UST will take on winless Ateneo. Far Eastern University beat Ateneo, 2-0, for its first win of the season. The Tamaraws have a 1-2-6 win-draw-loss card for five points, while the Blue Eagles have three points (0-3-6). - KY, RCJ, Reuben Terrado, GMA News