UAAP: UST salvages draw against FEU behind clutch Selarde goal

MANILA — John Paul Selarde struck late as University of Santo Tomas battled to a 1-1 draw against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 89 men’s football tournament, Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

The senior defender found the back of the net in the 87th minute to secure a crucial point for the Golden Booters against the Tamaraws.

“Lagi naming nireremind na minsan may good start, minsan may bad start. Pero what’s important in the game is that yung attitude na kahit na namin sinasabi na never say die attitude na habang may minutes pa, may time pa na natitira, laro ka lang,” said UST head coach Marjo Allado.

The result kept UST in fourth place in the standings with 11 points and a +4 goal difference, keeping a three-point cushion over FEU, which has eight points.

The draw also meant that La Salle and the University of the Philippines are still dried for second and third after their victories earlier in the day.

FEU had gotten off to a dream start, with Theo Libarnes breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute. The third-year forward netted his fifth goal of the season to cap off the Tamaraws’ early attacking pressure.

But their resistance was broken by Selarde late, and UST nearly claimed all three points in stoppage time through Edgar Aban, whose free kicks were stopped by Mark Daig.

The Golden Booters will look to return to winning ways against the UE Red Warriors on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., while the Tamaraws take on the Ateneo Blue Eagles later that day at 7 p.m.