DEFENDING champion University of the Philippines grabbed the solo lead by nipping Far Eastern University, 1-0, yesterday in the UAAP men’s football tournament at the Ocampo field inside the Ateneo campus.

Sophomore Jinggoy Valmayor, the league’s top scorer last year, struck in the 34th minute from a Jay Eusebio assist for the victory , giving the Fighting Maroons 13 points on a 3-4-0 win-draw-loss record.

UP goalkeeper Tyrone Caballes was a big factor in the second half, registering five saves.

La Salle dealt University of Santo Tomas its first setback with a 1-0 win.

Gio Diamante converted on a penalty kick with a minute left before halftime as the Green Archers moved to third place at 10 points with a 2-4-1 win-draw-loss record and boosted their bid for a slot in the finals.

The  Tigers missed the services of national under-23 stalwart OJ Clariño, who served his one-game suspension for the red card he received the last time out.

UST is still has 12 points for a 3-3-1 card in second spot.

In the first match, Fitch Arboleda struck on the 74th minute as University of the East nipped Ateneo, 1-0.

The Tamaraws remained at 8 points on a 2-2-3 mark.

By collecting six points on a 1-3-3 slate, the Red Warriors tied the Blue Eagles (2-0-5) in fifth place.

In baseball, National University nosed out La Salle, 4-3, while Ateneo routed UST, 12-2, in only five innings yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Bulldogs and the Blue Eagles remained tied on the leaderboard at 7-2 to boost their bid for the ‘twice-to-beat’ incentive in the ‘Final Four’, while the Green Archers fell to 6-3 slate in third.

UP stunned Adamson, 8-7, in the final game.

The Falcons and the Growling Tigers are still tied in fourth at 3-6.   (Theodore P. Jurado)