Rico Andes recovered his goal-finding capabilities and netted a hat trick to power Far Eastern University past Adamson in a 7-0 drubbing for its first win in the UAAP Season 80 men’s football tournament Thursday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
After hitting blanks in FEU’s first four matches, Andes found the back of the net in the 41st, 79th, and 88th minutes hand helped the Tamaraws get to five points five games into the season.
Andes, who had a total of six goals in Season 79, tallied the tournament’s second hat-trick after University of Santo Tomas’ Marvin Briceno achieved the feat in the Golden Booters’ season opener against FEU.
FEU already had a 2-0 lead at the end of the first half when Andes and Marole Bungay struck early for the Tamaraws.
Alex Rayos Jr. then put his name on the scoresheet in the 58th minute while Audie Menzi headed in his goal seven minutes later giving FEU the 4-0 lead.
Harold Alcoresa followed up Andes’ second goal in the 87th minute making the Tamaraws’ lead balloon to 6-0.
Then it was up to Andes to put the nail in the coffin sending home John Paul Salilig’s cross.
In the other matches, University of the Philippines got to 13 points and regained the top spot after taking down National U, 2-0, while De La Salle overcame University of the East, 3-2, and moved up to third seed with nine points.