UP out of the final four despite stalemate; ADMU stays on top to close out the regular season

Photo credits: UAAP

In a day full of stalemates, the UAAP Season 85 Final Four cast is now complete and it would be one without a staple name in the knockout rounds as the UP Fighting Maroons saw the exit doors despite a draw against #3 seed FEU Tamaraws.

A brace from Arturo Alleje was not enough to give the Fighting Maroons the last ticket to the Final Four as the Tamaraws held onto a draw that help them secure the third spot. Khent Brian Valenzuela opened the scoring for the Morayta-based booters in the 37th minute as he tapped the ball past Ryan Tiambeng.

Alleje would then equalize in stoppage time in the first half after muscling his way past two defenders before rifling a shot past Jetrick Fabrigas. Both the Diliman-based booters and the Tamaraws set each other up for a classic match as they exchanged attempts on their goalkeepers while the usual physicality is happening amongst the in-fielders.

Come the 78th minute, Sherwin Basindanan gave the go-ahead goal for the Tamaraws thanks to an incisive pass from Gerald Estores that split the back-line of UP. After four minutes, Francis Tacardon got a golden opportunity to level the match as he tried to dribble past a couple of defenders but was unable to pull off a lethal strike.

Vincent Parpan also tried to contribute to their cause with a delivery inside the box for Alleje but Fabrigas plucked the ball in the air. With seven minutes added on, the Fighting Maroons knew it was crunch time for them as they try to seal their semifinal spot.

However, the Tamaraws managed to keep them at bay only until the final minute of stoppage time. Alleje, after faking two defenders the wrong way, curled a majestic ball in past Fabrigas to equalize but a few seconds later, the final whistle blew, shutting down the doors on the Maroons' final four hopes. With their absence in the final four, it marks the first time in 13 years that there won't be a Fighting Maroon in the mix.

Photo credits: UAAP

In the other crucial fixture, the ADMU Blue Eagles secured the top spot after a 1-1 draw with the DLSU Green Booters. Fighting for bragging rights and a fixture that could favor them as they will be avoiding the hot-scoring Tamaraws, both sides had one clear intention in mind, take the top spot.

The defending champions got an early advantage as Lorenzo Lucindo scored the opener in the 15th minute. His header went past Mig Brosoto who got a touch of the ball but was unfortunate to not see the ball coming ahead of Lucindo. With how things were going, it didn't take long enough for the Taft-based booters to equalize the match.

Rain Del Rosario responded with a header of his own as if saying whatever you can do, we can do too in the 24th minute thanks to a wonderful delivery from Mohammad Almohjili. They would almost come close to a go-ahead goal inside the final five minutes of the first half but they felt they were robbed of a penalty.

In the 41st minute, Franck Anoh got the ball inside the box after a missed shot from one of his teammates but his shot was blocked by Lucindo. The entire coaching staff of DLSU was up in arms after the missed call from the referee but the replay confirmed that the ball hit the left side of Lucindo's body and are mere inches away from being a handball.

The action in the second half got more intense with both sides really eager to finish at the top of the standings. In the 66th minute, the match officials were put under the microscope after a controversial non-call on Bernardo Closa III's challenge on Mikio Umilin.

The speedster from Taft almost got the better of Closa but the defender tackled Umilin which seemed like a clear foul inside the box but the referee thought otherwise. It gave the Green Booters the motivation they needed as they continued to push for the lead.

However, Andy Roxas almost killed La Salle's momentum with strike his strike that hit the side netting of the goal giving the DLSU faithful to puff out their cheeks. In the 75th minute, Jovan Marfiga was introduced for the Green Booters and since his introduction, they showed more teeth in attack.

Despite exchanging blows and giving each other a hard time, the referee blew the final whistle giving Ateneo the top spot and a better playoff matchup against UST Golden Booters while the DLSU Green Booters will face their second-round tormentors FEU Tamaraws.

The Final Four match ups will happen on the 11th of May at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium where FEU squares of with the DLSU Green Booters at 4:30 PM while UST will try to go for an upset against the defending champions Ateneo at 6:30 PM.