(Photo credits: UAAP Media)
Rivalry games rarely need extra fuel, but Elisha Lubiano provided the spark that ignited De La Salle University’s UAAP Season 88 campaign. Her 51st-minute header was all the Lady Booters needed to edge Ateneo de Manila University, 1-0, in the tournament opener Saturday at the newly inaugurated Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
A product of the University of Bohol, Lubiano finally broke through after La Salle had squandered several clear chances. Her decisive finish didn’t just put points on the board—it brought relief to a side that had been pressing but lacked precision.
“They should have all been converted,” coach Alvin Ocampo admitted. “There were unopposed one-on-ones that didn’t end in goals. We need to practice more on our finishing.”
La Salle’s front line was relentless. Chenny Mae Dañoso, Maria Layacan, and reigning Golden Boot winner Dani Tanjangco all had opportunities to pad the lead, but their efforts lacked the final touch. Ateneo keeper Chelssy Casals stood tall in the face of constant pressure, denying Mikaela Villacin and Tanjangco to keep her team within striking distance.
Villacin thought she had given La Salle an early advantage in the first half, but her strike was ruled offside. The disallowed goal only added to the Lady Booters’ urgency before Lubiano finally delivered.
With three points secured, La Salle turns quickly to a midweek test against University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. at Vermosa. “When we faced UST in the pre-season, we only played them for a half,” Ocampo said. “Not much happened then, so hopefully this time we can bounce back against them.”
Ateneo, meanwhile, will try to regroup against defending champion Far Eastern University on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. Celina Salazar and Astrid Ignacio had rare looks in front of goal but fired straight at La Salle keeper Jessica Marie Pido, who calmly handled her assignments.
The Blue Eagles nearly spoiled La Salle’s opening-day celebration deep in stoppage time. After Lubiano conceded a foul, Ateneo’s Kassandra Marie Zalamea lined up a free kick just outside the box. Her attempt, however, sailed over the bar, sealing La Salle’s narrow but satisfying victory over their archrivals.
