UAAP: UP blanks Ateneo XI; UST turns back FEU

MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines started its title-retention campaign on a positive note, overcoming Ateneo, 2-0, Saturday in the UAAP Season 74 men’s football tournament at the Ateneo field in Quezon City.

Ghanaian midfielder Ayi Nii Aryee and Miguel Roy struck for the Fighting Maroons, who are bidding to secure back-to-back titles and their third in four years.

Seeking redemption from the loss to UP in last year’s final, University of Santo Tomas also fashioned out a narrow 1-0 win over Far Eastern U.

Forward Christian de Juan was at the right place at the right time to score the game-winner just before halftime for the Tigers, who lost, 0-2, in last year’s finals.

Over at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, La Salle stayed unbeaten in women’s volleyball as it cruised past Adamson, 25-20, 25-18, 25-22, while FEU toppled National U, 25-15, 25-19, 25-18.

Cha Cruz fired 18 points, including three blocks as the Lady Archers solidified their hold of top spot with their eighth straight win.

Rosemarie Vargas sparkled for the Lady Tamaraws with 18 points. FEU improved to 5-3, while NU dropped to 1-7.

Meanwhile, UP and Adamson posted their second straight victories to set the pace in softball at the Rizal Memorial baseball field.

UP walloped UE, 4-2, in a victory highlighted by Gen Ytario’s homerun—the first in the tournament this season.