By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Jan Patrick Baito’s free kick helped University of Santo Tomas to a 1-0 victory over Adamson University in the UAAP Season 87 men’s football tournament at the UP Diliman football field Sunday night.
Iloilo City-born Baito made the free kick in the 67th minute after Adamson’s Mark Christian Ricario committed a foul.
“I just did what the coaches said, that we need to score goals to boost our confidence in the remaining minutes of the game,” Baito, a Physical Education student, said.
“I am thankful to coach (Marjo Allado) because he gave me the confidence to take that free kick because the team needed it. I really just did it for the team,” Baito added.
UST climbed to fifth place with six points and a goal difference of 0, ahead of De La Salle University with four points (-4).
The Golden Booters will face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday while the Falcons, who are at the bottom of the standings with zero points and a minus-12 goal difference, will meet the Green Booters at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, defending champion University of the Philippines clobbered University of the East, 3-0, to remain in fourth place with six points and a +3 goal difference.
Jan Ceena Donato scored in the second minute while Joseph Garces delivered two goals – in the 52nd minute and 64th minute.
“Of course, we’re excited knowing that we have three points in three games and we really needed to win. We’ll use our win as a boost in our coming games, especially the next game, we’re against FEU,” said Garces, a rookie from Don Bosco Technology Center.
Assistant coach Ojay Clarino called the shots for the Fighting Maroons for the second straight game in the absence of head coach Popoy Clarino, who is taking care of his newborn baby.
UP will take on FEU in a rematch of the Season 86 final on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
UE, in third place with seven points and a -3 goal difference, will battle Ateneo de Manila University on Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Ateneo is on top of the standings with 12 points (+8) followed by FEU with nine points (+8). (PNA)