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Ateneo completes NU double to remain unscathed

Jarvey Gayoso made another mark for Ateneo, with his sixth goal of the season gave the Blue Eagles their seventh win in nine matches.
By Kevin Estrada

MANILA -- Ateneo maintained their unblemished record in the UAAP men's season after working out a close win over NU earlier in the evening at the Rizal Memorial.

Jarvey Gayoso his sixth goal for the Blue Eagles as their double over the Bulldogs this season gave them their seventh win in nine matches and extended their lead at the top of the table with 23 points, five ahead of FEU who plays UP as of this writing.

The super sophomore drilled a free kick from the middle of their attacking half just 10 minutes into the match that left Chris Perocho no chance in saving it.

NU tried to equalize before the half-hour but Lawrence Colina's shot was disallowed by the referee due to his own handball before the kick.

Gayoso instigated another tryst just before half-time, but Carlo Liay wasted the sophomore's free kick as the first half ended with the Blue Eagles taking a slim 1-0 lead.

Ateneo tried to extend the lead several times at the restart, but found its attempts left to be desired for most of it.

But Jaypee Merida will have to thank his backline courtesy of Jeremiah Rocha and the returning Willam Grierson that kept their slim lead up to the final whistle to get all three points, especially Jerico Dagsa came close to equalize in the 72nd minute with a threatening free kick that sailed a couple of foot above the roof of the net despite catching AJ Arcilla off his line.

"Happy kasi nakakuha kami ng three points, pero frustrating lang sa mga chances namin. How many times namin ito natrain pero this game di namin naconvert so medyo nakakaistress," Merida said after the match, in which he thinks that they are now already marked now in the second round after their solid first round.

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