Defending UAAP football champions, the University of the Philippines, have sealed the first finals slot after they defeated last year's runners up, the University of Santo Tomas 2-0 in their penultimate UAAP fixture Thursday morning.

Before the match, UP was a point ahead of UST and a draw might have forced the final slots to be up for grabs until Sunday. However UP were determined to clinch the slot in this match.

Despite missing striker Jinggoy Valmayor through suspension, UP were able to grab the lead early in the match after Ayi Nii Aryee's shot hit the post that subsequently entered the back of UST's Ramon Borigas' goal in the 10th minute.

Ayi would then scored his sceond as his volley from the edge of the penalty area made it 2-0 in favor of the Fighting Maroons.

UP would then hold on to the lead despite UST trying hard to grab a consolation. Minutes before full time, goalscorer Ayi was sent off following two successeive yellow cards, one for a tackle the other for dissent. He will miss the match against the University of the East this Sunday.

De La Salle University may still have a slightest of chance to advance to the final after Alfredo Bustamante scored the lone goal as the Green Booters defeated UE in the second match. The Taft-based squad currently lies in fourth behind UST and FEU.

In the last match, FEU fell behind from an early Ateneo goal, however Jesus Melliza showed why he is the UAAP's top scorer as FEU came back to win the match 2-1.