FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — University of the East wanted to be seen as more than just a cellar-dweller in the UAAP men’s football tournament.
And there’s no better way to showcase its more disciplined approach than with a 2-0 upset of perennial contender University of the Philippines on opening day at the FEU-Diliman pitchSaturday.
“First thing I told them was we needed to fix our attitude,” said head coach Ryan Marinay, who took over the coaching reins this year, in Filipino. “We want to change how other teams look at us.”
With the Maroon Booters pressing early, having three shots on goal in the first 16 minutes, the Red Warriors kept patient and were rewarded with a goal from Fitch Arboleda in the 17th minute.
And that wasn’t the last time Arboleda, one of the veterans in the team who returned from an injury this year, would threaten to score.
Arboleda had clear attempts in the 54th and the 88 minute, but his shots were collected by UP’s keeper.
“We get a huge boost from our graduating players. They want to make something happen for the team before they graduate,” Marinay said. “Arboleda led us.”
Edgardo Aguirre doubled UE’s lead in the 37th minute, as he struck a goal off his own deflected penalty kick attempt.
“We’re the underdogs, that’s why many were surprised we won. We wanted to win by two, and that’s what happened,” Marinay also said.
Jinggoy Valmayor, a former rookie-of-the-year, had chances for UP but his attempts either sailed out or went straight to the keeper.
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