The UAAP Season 78 Men's Football Final took place on 5 May 2016 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, featuring a matchup between UP Fighting Maroons and Ateneo Blue Eagles. UP won 4âÂÂ1, with one goal from Daniel Gadia and a hat-trick from Kintaro Miyagi, to claim their sixth UAAP Football Championship final victory; Ateneo's goal was scored by Mikko Mabanag.
The men's and women's Final matches were on May 5, 2016, which was exactly eight months after the start of the season on September 5, 2015.
The UP Fighting Maroons dedicated their win for their teammate Rogie Maglinas who had just died of cancer.
From the elimination round, Ateneo Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons made to the Final Four with De La Salle Green Archers and UST Growling Tigers. In the playoffs, the number 1 seeded UP Fighting Maroons beat the number 4 UST Growling Tigers by a score of 3âÂÂ0, while in the other match, number 2 seeded De La Salle Green Archers was beaten by their arch-rival and number 3 seeded Ateneo Blue Eagles via penalty shoot-out that makes Ateneo meet UP in the Championship match.
In the first half, at the 28th minute Kintaro Miyagi scored the first goal that gives UP a 1âÂÂ0 lead, at the 34th minute Daniel Gadia gave UP a 2âÂÂ0 lead, and at the 36th minute Mikko Mabanag scored a goal from a free kick for Ateneo.
Ihe second half, Kintaro Miyagi scored his second goal that gave UP a 3âÂÂ1 lead, and in the 80th minute Miyagi made a hat trick to give UP a 4âÂÂ1 lead, which was the final score.
Match rules
The match was broadcast live on ABS-CBN Sports+Action on regular channel and ABS-CBN Sports+Action HD via cable TV and livestream.
More than 9,000 watched this championship match in Rizal Memorial Stadium.