UAAP: La Salle, UST settle for scoreless draw to close first round

MANILA — De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas battled to an entertaining goalless draw to close the first round of the UAAP Season 89 men’s football tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

The Green Booters thought they had broken the deadlock just three minutes into the contest, but James Sibla’s early strike was ruled out for offside. Sibla slotted home the rebound after Golden Booters goalkeeper Mark Daig denied Uriel Dalapo’s initial attempt, only for the assistant referee to raise the flag.

Action between La Salle and UST in the UAAP Season 89 men’s football tournament, October 25, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP MediaBoth teams continued to search for the breakthrough in the second half, but neither could find the finishing touch to claim all three points.

Joaquin Collo, Argos Alingalan, and Dalapo struggled to convert their chances in the final third for La Salle, while Adrian Peciller nearly capitalized on a Daig fumble. However, the UST goalkeeper recovered quickly to deny the attempt.

At the other end, Golden Booters substitute Richard Songalia tested the La Salle defense, but Green Booters custodian Iñigo Castro stood firm to turn away his efforts.

The goalless stalemate, the first of Season 89, earned both squads a point, with La Salle leapfrogging the University of the Philippines into second place on goal difference.

Both teams now have 11 points, but the Green Booters hold a plus-5 goal difference compared to the Fighting Maroons’ plus-2.

Meanwhile, UST sits in fourth place with 10 points, three clear of fifth-ranked Far Eastern University.

The Golden Booters extended their unbeaten run to four games after opening the season with consecutive losses.