De La Salle University advanced to the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 men”s football tournament following a 2-1 victory against the University of the Philippines on Thursday at the UP Football Stadium.
In a thrilling match, John Gaverza scored both goals for La Salle in the first half, showcasing his skill and determination. He opened the scoring with a header in the 17th minute and extended the lead to 2-0 shortly before halftime with a well-placed finish from a cross by Lukie Aguilar.
The Fighting Maroons responded after the break, with Ramil Bation III netting a goal in the 53rd minute to inject urgency into their attack. Bation III nearly equalized in the 70th minute, but his shot hit the crossbar following a misclearance by La Salle”s defense.
Despite the intense pressure from UP in the latter stages of the match, the Green Booters held firm to secure their spot in the semifinals. This marks La Salle”s first Final 4 appearance in three years, finishing the elimination round with 16 points, just ahead of Ateneo, which dropped to fifth place.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Richard Leyble, the relatively young La Salle team will face UP again in the Final Four on February 8 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Leyble expressed pride in his team”s performance, stating, “We know that we played against a goliath team. A very strong team, the number one team, but we didn”t care. We trained, then I told them, just follow the instructions. Follow the play, then, let it be, if we lose, it”s okay, but better to win.”
He further emphasized his pride in the players, noting their adherence to game strategies, especially in the attacking third, urging them not to squander scoring opportunities.
Although the loss ended UP”s impressive 11-match unbeaten streak this season, they still topped the standings with 29 points, earning a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. The Fighting Maroons will aim to adjust their tactics during the break to better prepare for the rematch against La Salle, having previously played to a goalless draw in the first round.
This match served as a rescheduled fixture from November 9, which was postponed due to Super Typhoon “Uwan.” Additionally, the result marked the end of Ateneo”s campaign, concluding their streak of eight consecutive Final Four appearances, which began in Season 77 (2015), as they had hoped for a favorable outcome to keep their postseason hopes alive.
In the other semifinal matchup, the second-seeded Far Eastern University, which also holds a twice-to-beat advantage, will take on the third-ranked University of Santo Tomas.
