Tigresses gain twice-to-beat in football

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas trounced Ateneo, 2-0, to seize the top seeding and twice-to-beat advantage in the finals of the UAAP Season 74 women’s football championship the other day at the Ateneo field.

Striker Marianne Narciso connected in the second minute while Jowe-Ann Barruga found the back of the net in the 26’ to power the Tigresses to victory, their fourth against three draws and a loss for a league-best 15 points.

The España-based lady booters, the 2008 titlists who placed second the last two seasons, will go for the plum on Sunday against No. 2 De La Salle U (13 points on 3-4-1).

“We needed to be more aggressive in a game like this and I’m happy the players responded to the challenge,” said UST women’s mentor Rozano Estrabon.

The Lady Archers, champions in 2009, were held to a scoreless draw by Far Eastern U at the end of the elims to settle for the No. 2 position in the finale against UST.

“We cannot just play like this (in the finals). UST is strong both physically and emotionally. But I believe we can overcome their twice-to-beat advantage,” said La Salle mentor Hans Smit.

The Tigresses are seeking to bounce back from the stigma of last season, where they topped the elims but squandered their finals incentives, bowing to FEU in two games via similar 0-1 scores.