SUBSTITUTE Ashley Flores provided the flash of inspiration as NCAA defending champion San Beda slipped past Arellano University, 3-2, Saturday in the 2012 IPPCA Football Pre-Season Cup at Nuvali field in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.
The 18-year-old Flores fired home what turned out to be the game-winner in the 63rd minute as San Beda climbed to the top in Group C with a second straight victory.
The Red Booters nearly wasted a two-goal edge as Arellano mounted a second-half fightback before Flores secured the win. Alejandro Baldo opened the scoring for San Beda with a long-range strike in the 11th minute before Aaron Carlos doubled the lead 12 minutes later.
Arellano reduced the deficit at halftime through Alvin Obero’s free kick in the 39th minute. Then Obero delivered the equalizer from the penalty spot eight minutes into the second half.
San Beda coach Jeff Liman felt his squad was sluggish because of the nearly two-week break after the University Games.
In other senior matches, Ateneo-Flying V pummeled University of Perpetual Help, 8-1, while Philippine Christian University turned back Mapua, 3-1, in the tournament organized by Filoil Flying V and sponsored by Meralco, Nuvali, Nature’s Spring, Molten, N20 Gastropub, Boysen Paints, BDO, Topcoms/StarSports Korea, Bacchus, CDO San Marino Corned Tuna and PingPing Lechon.
Lester Amita scored two goals, including a 76th minute strike as Far Eastern U nipped Lyceum, 3-2, while Emilio Aguinaldo College battled National University to a 1-all draw.
In junior play, the San Beda Red Cubs walloped the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 11-0, while the Ateneo Blue Eaglets repulsed the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 4-0.
Michael Jeremy Mabanag fired a hat trick for Ateneo, which jacked up its record to four points on a win and a draw.