MANILA – JB Borlongan scored the go-ahead goal as the University of the Philippines Maroons scored a 2-1 win over National University Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 81 men’s football on Thursday at the FEU-Diliman pitch.
Borlongan, a mainstay of the national men’s U-22 team, converted a spectacular free kick at the 53rd minute to jumpstart the Fighting Maroons’ title-retention bid on a bright note.
Negrense Joshua Broce surged the Bulldogs ahead at the 19th minute as he scored from distance but the Fighting Maroons had a quick response from King Miyagi to tie things up at the half.
Meanwhile, AJ Pasion came up with a last minute equalizer as the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers settled for a 2-2 draw with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
The Tamaraws were poised to take the solo lead in the standings after rookie Gio Pabualan broke the 1-1 deadlock with a 82nd minute strike before Pasion delivered the stoppage time goal.
In the other match, University of the East Red Warriors lean on the lone conversion of Mark Lerion to take down the De La Salle University Green Archers for its second straight win.
The Growling Tigers and the Red Warriors are level at six points, but the former remained on top of the table by virtue of goal difference, while the Tamaraws settled for third spot with five points./PN
