By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Booters halted the Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws’ over a decade of reign with a 2-1 upset in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ high school football finals at the University of the Philippines-Diliman Football Stadium.
Negrense Joshua Moleje and James Sunog knocked down a goal each for the Junior Golden Booters, which bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to the Baby Tamaraws last year to capture their first-ever crown.
“Since Day 1, we’ve been working on this, and I know these boys deserve it,” said Moleje, who will join Valencia-based club Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D., after the season.
“We owe it to our seniors. Last year, we couldn’t give them the championship. We didn’t win,” he said.
“Now, we’re dedicating this win to our seniors. We just played with our hearts, gave it everything, and God gave us the gold,” the Best Midfielder awardee added.
Moleje broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a composed finish from close range, but the Baby Tamaraws managed to tie the score late in the first half courtesy of a strike from Sambher Nash Abrenica.
The Junior Golden Booters regained the lead in the 69th minute with Sunog tapping the ball in against the Baby Tamaraws’ keeper before they held on to the slim lead the rest of the way.
“So proud of the boys,” UST assistant coach David Basa said after the game.
“Lahat talaga binigay nila. Last minute, ang daming atake ng FEU-D pero hindi sila bumigay. Gusto talaga nila makuha ‘yung finals. Alam nila sa sarili nila na kaya nila manalo sa UAAP eh,” he added.
This marks the first time since Season 72 that the high school football title does not belong to the Baby Tamaraws, which topped the elimination round with 28 points from nine wins and one draw.
Meanwhile, Baby Tamaraws’ Jerriemy Biton still had plenty to celebrate after claiming the Rookie of the Year, Best Striker and Golden Boot winner after scoring 10 goals throughout the campaign.
De La Salle Zobel’s Bacchus Ekberg secured the Best Defender award for the second consecutive year, while Southridge’s Paolo Tansingco was honored as Best Goalkeeper for his standout performances during the Admirals’ Cinderella run.
UST’s Stephen Flores earned the Most Valuable Player award for anchoring the Junior Golden Booters’ rock-solid defense./ASC, WDJ