ENDING THE SECOND round with a clean sweep, the San Beda Red Booters showcased their prowess as they prepare to square off against the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Strikers in the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 Football tournament.
The tournament adopted a double round-robin format, where each team competed against every other team twice. The elimination round took place from February 19 to March 7 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Round 1
SBU vs. EAC
In their opening match, the San Beda Red Booters started their campaign on a high note, securing a convincing victory against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals with a scoreline of 5-0 last February 19.
Expressing his joy about returning to the NCAA after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Coach Nhiboy Pedimonte remarked, “We’re very happy na makabalik ulit sa NCAA.” With this impressive 5-0 win, the Red Booters established a positive momentum toward the general championships in their first game of the season.
The scoring action began early, with AJ Lampines netting a goal for the Red Booters in the first half. The second half saw also an outstanding performance, with Nicolai Abalos, Kirk Eman See, Paul Joshua Mapula, and freshman player Kirvy Tabelin adding four more goals to the tally.
Looking ahead, Coach Nhiboy emphasized the need for improvement, especially in the attacking aspects, and acknowledged the importance of goal difference in determining the top team after the first round. He stated, “We just have to improve kung ano ‘yung mga mistakes namin dito… So, we have to catch up sa goal difference kasi magiging factor siya doon sa pag-determine ng number one after the first round.”
(by Veronica Balbin with Nathaniel Soriano)
SBU vs. MU
The Red Booters’ dominance was extended with an impressive 11-0 victory against the Mapúa University (MU) Booters on February 22.
By halftime, the Red Booters had already secured a 5-0 lead, with goals from Amir Aningalan in the sixth minute, Lampines in the seventh and 16th minutes, Djohn Pusing in the ninth minute, and Jel Jel Sison in the 24th minute.
The momentum continued in the second half, with goals from See in the 59th and 93rd minutes, Tabelin in the 70th minute, Nicolai Abalos in the 73rd minute, and Mapula in the 86th and 91st minutes.
(by Shelly Bocabel with Jake Evangelista)
SBU vs. DLS-CSB
The longstanding football rivalry between the Red Booters and Benilde Strikers was reignited during the first round of the league’s football tournament.
After two dominant games, the Red Booters still faced a setback, suffering their first loss in Season 99 with a score of 0-1 against DLS-CSB last February 26.
At halftime, both teams were deadlocked at 0-0, setting the stage for an intense second half. Benilde secured the only goal of the match during the 63rd minute, clinching their victory over the Red Booters for the round.
In an interview, Coach Nhiboy stated, “We had a lot of lapses in today’s game. But the good thing is that we have clips, so we can review and know which areas to improve.” He also acknowledged that the rookies were taken aback, not fully aware of the tough competition presented by Benilde.
With four games left in Season 99, Coach Nhiboy urged the team to “move on, concentrate, and onto the next one.” The Red Booters aimed to secure victories in the upcoming matches against EAC Generals and Mapúa Booters before facing the Benilde Strikers again in the second round.
(by Shelly Bocabel with Jake Evangelista)
Round 2
SBU vs. EAC
The start of the second round of Season 99 last February 29 saw a commanding 3-0 victory by the Red Booters over the EAC Generals.
The Red Booters’ fast-paced attacks led to an early goal by Aningalan, putting the team ahead within the first ten minutes. However, the Red Booters struggled to maintain momentum for the rest of the first half following Aningalan’s goal. Coach Nhiboy openly criticized the team, highlighting their tendency to relax after scoring the first goal.
“’Yung struggles namin were una, actually the same as ‘yung struggle namin sa [unang game against EAC]. First meeting namin sa EAC, we scored early—we tend to relax,” said Coach Nhiboy. He attributed the delay in the team’s second goal to their relaxation and inconsistency.
The Generals displayed gritty stops and tough defense, slowing down the Red Booters. Nevertheless, John Ariel Marquez and Mapula managed to break through the defense, securing a 3-0 lead for the Red Booters and keeping the Generals scoreless.
In addition to the victory, the Red Booters also celebrated the return of Yuan Josemari Reña from his injury, which had kept him sidelined for the entire first round. Coach Nhiboy expressed that “the best thing that happened today is si Yuan nakabalik.”
(by Veronica Balbin and D.S. Elijah de Castro)
SBU vs. MU
The Red Booters continued their mean streak as they wiped the MU Booters, defeating them once again, 6-0, last March 5.
The players closed the first half of the game with a score of 1-0, thanks to Marquez’s goal in the seventh minute.
After a spirited halftime break, the Red Booters added five more goals to their tally. See contributed three goals during the 47th, 76th, and 90th minutes, helping solidify their win against the Mapúa Booters. Tabelin also added a goal in the 57th minute, and Edzon Pormento scored the second-to-last goal during the 80th minute. This victory, following their previous win against the EAC Generals on February 29, reaffirmed their dominance on the football field.
Following this game, the Red Booters are not yet finished with their Season 99 campaign, as they still have two more games against the Benilde Strikers to vie for the championship this season.
(by Shelly Bocabel and Manssel Latonero)
SBU vs. DLS-CSB
The Red Booters concluded the elimination round strong with a 1-0 victory against the Benilde Strikers last March 7.
As the rivalry continues, the San Beda Red Booters proved their dominance against the Benilde Blazers, dominating both the first and second half of the game.
In their continued rivalry, the Red Booters proved to be a dominating force over Benilde throughout both halves of the game. Despite facing several red card challenges, the Red Booters continued to step up and fought eagerly for the winning goal, setting the stage for an intense championship match against the Strikers. Despite multiple goal attempts from players like Aningalan and Pormento, the winning goal came from the team captain, Elwin Escosora.
Escosora’s decisive goal during the 83rd minute of the game secured their place in the hot seat for the championship match scheduled for Monday, March 11.
When asked about the team’s victory, Coach Nhiboy credited the boys for their hard work and emphasized the need for composure. He stated, “We just have to stay composed and ‘wag magpadala sa emosyon. I think ‘yun ‘yung kailangan namin i-imporve, ‘yung composure namin.” Referring to the heightened emotions in a Benilde versus San Beda matchup, Coach Nhiboy highlighted the importance of “controlling emotions” for the team’s success.
Still focused and dedicated to the game despite his teammates’ and his own injury, Eldwin Escosora asserted that “As a team captain. Ireremind ko lang sila ng husto na kailangan… We play smart and that we play with our hearts. Para makuha ‘yung win,” inspiring the team to stand firm considering the possibility of him not playing in the championships due to his injury in today’s game.
(by Shelly Bocabel with Jake Evangelista)
With the odds in their favor, the Red Booters are poised for the championship match on Monday. The question looms: will they reclaim the crown for Mendiola? The answer awaits tomorrow, March 11, at 4 p.m., as the team takes on the Benilde Strikers at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.