Benilde deals San Beda its first loss, claims solo lead in NCAA football

Published February 26, 2024 8:46pm

Updated February 26, 2024 8:46pm

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde relied on Kobe Stuart del Rosario’s lone goal to stun defending champion San Beda University, 1-0, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s football tournament on Monday.

After a goalless first half from both squads, the Taft crew turned to del Rosario as he converted the breakthrough goal at the 63rd minute to give Benilde the edge before they held off the Red Booters and bagged the victory.

The win allowed Benilde to claim the solo top seed at the end of the first round with a 2-0-1 win-loss-draw card while the defending champion San Beda went 2-1-0.

Prior to the win, Benilde was coming off a 1-1 draw against Emilio Aguinaldo College last Thursday while San Beda could not build on a mammoth 11-0 thrashing of Mapua University earlier that day where Alexis Lampines, Kirk See, and Faustin Tabelin unleashed a brace each.

EAC is at the third spot with a 0-1-2 slate while Mapua sits at the cellar of the team standings with a 0-2-1 record.

The second round continues on Thursday with Benilde taking on Mapua at 7 a.m. followed by the 9 a.m. clash between San Beda and EAC. 

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News