MANILA – De La Salle University Green Archers ended the first round of UAAP Season 81 men’s football eliminations with a 2-1 victory over Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles at the FEU-Diliman pitch.
Alfonso Montelibano converted two goals while goalkeeper Gab Villacin delivered a crucial save as the Green Archers rose to solo second place in the standings with 12 points.
Montelibano found the back of the net from an assist by Negrense Shanden Vergara at the 13th minute and helped the Archers double their lead with a header off a Jed Diamante free kick 11 minutes later.
The Blue Eagles pulled one back courtesy of a header by Rupert Baña from an Andreas Maniquis set piece in the 26th minute. Joaquin Roque attempted to tie the score for Ateneo in the 89th minute by Villacin foiled hit try.
The Green Archers are now three points off Far Eastern University Tamaraws, which topped the first round with 15 points, while the Blue Eagles remained level with University of Santo Tomas in third place with 10 points.
Meanwhile, Allen Lozano netted a brace in Adamson University Falcons’ 2-1 squeaker over defending champion University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to earn its first full points of the season.
The Fighting Maroons, who were without six starters due to their national U23 team duties in Malaysia, dropped at seven points alongside the Falcons and University of the East Red Warriors./PN
