FEU tramples Ateneo, joins UP atop UAAP Football table

MANILA, Philippines—Putting a foothold at the top of the UAAP Football Table is the Far Eastern University Tamaraws as they gored the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Booters, 4-0, in their recent encounter at the FEU Diliman pitch on Thursday.

Arnel Amita netted a hat trick for FEU as they joined the University of the Philippines atop the table with 24 points.

“I think we’re making strides, we’re making progress,” Amita said. “Every game we look at it as a championship game.”

Amita first found the back of the net off a penalty in the 38th minute after Jin Montemayor fouled him inside the box, then followed it up with a chip shot in the 67th.

He found the magic number in the 83rd minute as he put it past the keeper and sealed the three points for the defending champions.

Ateneo was not in the zone after Wilson Marcelino and keeper JO Oracion gave FEU’s Eric Giganto the free lane in the 56th minute to put the Tams up 2-0.

In the first game, Paolo Salenga salvaged three points for the National University Bulldogs as he found the back of the net in stoppage time to drop the University of Santo Tomas 2-1.

Gino Clariño scored early for the Golden Booters, putting home Jopridale Molino’s cross in the third minute.

Patrick Valenzuela nailed the equalizer for FEU in the 64th minute after converting Francis Abalunan’s corner.