 |
| The NCAA Men's Football crown is back in Mendiola after San Beda left it late to repulse Arellano. |
CARMONA -- San Beda needed a touch of last-minute magic from Jessie Semblante to regain the NCAA college football title after escaping past a game Arellano side by the smallest of scorelines Tuesday afternoon in San Lazaro.
The Red Booters left it late in the 87th minute when Semblante, a goalkeeper put into midfield by San Beda boss Christopher Pedimonte, hit a magnificent free kick past Jericho Desalisa into the top left corner to regain the crown back to Mendiola this year, their first since 2017 when they swept the field by winning all nine matches.
With the title conquest, San Beda drew level with La Salle as the country's most successful football school after notching their 24th title overall in the country's oldest collegiate league.
Semblante's late heroics this season gave him the Golden Ball as the league's most valuable player.
Nimrod Balabat capped off his stellar career with yet another citation as the best midfielder, with Kenry Balobo completing the San Beda trio of individual awardees as he got the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper.
Agustin Roa of St. Benilde got the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals this season.
San Beda: Balobo (GK), Abada, Balabat, Crestal, Galang, Javier (C), Magtoto, Manlapaz, Sabado, Semblante, Suba
Arellano: Desalisa (GK), Akiapat, Alquitela, Bernarte, Corsame (C), Gadia, Galasa, Gamutan, Guinabang, Mangaoang, Sanquillos
Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada
.JPG)
.jpg)
