The Rizal Memorial Football Stadium will be the place to be this Sunday afternoon, as the UAAP is set to crown its champions in collegiate football in a special doubleheader to be televised LIVE on ABS-CBN Sports and Action.
The curtain-raiser at 2pm features Far Eastern University going up against the University of the Philippines for the championship in the women’s division, which will then be followed by the men’s division final between FEU and La Salle.
The Green Booters secured their first finals berth in ten years, beating arch-rivals Ateneo, 1-0, to remain undefeated and at the same time, keep their hopes of ending a seventeen-year drought alive. Substitute Gelo Diamante stepped up to the plate in the second half, etching his name in La Salle lore with his 88th minute score that was the only goal of the match. It was a move that both he and head coach Hans Smit acknowledged to be “a risk,” with the striker from Davao still not fully recovered from a broken clavicle that sidelined him for most of the second round.
In spite of their unbeaten standing, Hans Smit played down the possibility of the team being tagged as the favorites in the final, noting that no one tipped them as favorites coming into the season.
The defending champions, on the other hand, had to survive a grueling and intense match against their postseason nemesis, the University of the Philippines. After going without a goal in regulation, UP defender Ian Clarino gets called for a handball inside the FEU penalty area in the 97th minute. Arnel Amita took the penalty, and although Maroon goal keeper Ace Villanueva managed to save the spot kick, the rebound went back to the Manila Jeepney midfielder, who slots it back to the net in the 99th minute for the lone goal of the game.
Arnel admitted that playing UP was very difficult, knowing that they have never beaten them in their last two meetings. The team really focused and prepared for this game. Looking ahead to the final, he said that they will work even harder in preparing
Head coach Kim Chul Su made a couple of adjustments for this semifinal, one of which was warranted due to injury. The Korean gave Michael Menzi his first start this season as a goal keeper, after playing in midfield the whole year. A groin injury ended Val Jurao’s day after twenty minutes, forcing the team to insert Paolo Bugas earlier than they hoped. The reigning MVP played just five minutes in his first game back from rehabbing his knee injury just a week earlier.
The previous two meetings between FEU and La Salle ended up as 1-1 draws. FEU assistant Dexter Chio acknowledged that they will need to prepare against La Salle’s strong defense, a unit that had allowed just nine goals in the eliminations. That defense is anchored by Nico Villacin, Noel Brago, Gerald Layumas, and Matthew Nierras, with goalkeeper Paeng de Guzman behind this foursome. The defending champions, however, boast of the league’s best offense, with the trio of Amita, skipper Eric Giganto, and Jesus Melliza ranked in the top five leading scorers with a combined 39 goals.
On the women’s side, both FEU and UP finished on top of the five-team standings with sixteen points each, with the Lady Maroons holding a better goal difference than the Lady Tamaraws. Both teams each carry a win against the other in the eliminations, so it promises to be an interesting encounter.
UP is attempting to claim its first-ever UAAP title, anchored on their depth, led by national team standout Cristina delos Reyes and last season’s Rookie of the Year Mary Rose Obra. Under the leadership of head coach Anto Gonzales, the Lady Maroons used the positive momentum from its second round surge last season and brought it into this season, winning their first three games. Although they struggled a bit in the next three matches, they did manage to finish strong with back-to-back wins to earn a finals berth.
FEU, meanwhile, is seeking a third straight championship and fourth in the last five seasons. The team is anchored on Season 75 MVP and Season 76 Best Midfielder and Striker Barbie Sobredo, with scoring threats coming from Ina Araneta, Sharmaine Siaotong, and Cha Fagaragan. Under head coach Let Dimzon, they ran off five wins in their next six matches after losing their season opener, becoming the first team to book their finals seat.
The curtain-raiser at 2pm features Far Eastern University going up against the University of the Philippines for the championship in the women’s division, which will then be followed by the men’s division final between FEU and La Salle.
The Green Booters secured their first finals berth in ten years, beating arch-rivals Ateneo, 1-0, to remain undefeated and at the same time, keep their hopes of ending a seventeen-year drought alive. Substitute Gelo Diamante stepped up to the plate in the second half, etching his name in La Salle lore with his 88th minute score that was the only goal of the match. It was a move that both he and head coach Hans Smit acknowledged to be “a risk,” with the striker from Davao still not fully recovered from a broken clavicle that sidelined him for most of the second round.
In spite of their unbeaten standing, Hans Smit played down the possibility of the team being tagged as the favorites in the final, noting that no one tipped them as favorites coming into the season.
The defending champions, on the other hand, had to survive a grueling and intense match against their postseason nemesis, the University of the Philippines. After going without a goal in regulation, UP defender Ian Clarino gets called for a handball inside the FEU penalty area in the 97th minute. Arnel Amita took the penalty, and although Maroon goal keeper Ace Villanueva managed to save the spot kick, the rebound went back to the Manila Jeepney midfielder, who slots it back to the net in the 99th minute for the lone goal of the game.
Arnel admitted that playing UP was very difficult, knowing that they have never beaten them in their last two meetings. The team really focused and prepared for this game. Looking ahead to the final, he said that they will work even harder in preparing
Head coach Kim Chul Su made a couple of adjustments for this semifinal, one of which was warranted due to injury. The Korean gave Michael Menzi his first start this season as a goal keeper, after playing in midfield the whole year. A groin injury ended Val Jurao’s day after twenty minutes, forcing the team to insert Paolo Bugas earlier than they hoped. The reigning MVP played just five minutes in his first game back from rehabbing his knee injury just a week earlier.
The previous two meetings between FEU and La Salle ended up as 1-1 draws. FEU assistant Dexter Chio acknowledged that they will need to prepare against La Salle’s strong defense, a unit that had allowed just nine goals in the eliminations. That defense is anchored by Nico Villacin, Noel Brago, Gerald Layumas, and Matthew Nierras, with goalkeeper Paeng de Guzman behind this foursome. The defending champions, however, boast of the league’s best offense, with the trio of Amita, skipper Eric Giganto, and Jesus Melliza ranked in the top five leading scorers with a combined 39 goals.
On the women’s side, both FEU and UP finished on top of the five-team standings with sixteen points each, with the Lady Maroons holding a better goal difference than the Lady Tamaraws. Both teams each carry a win against the other in the eliminations, so it promises to be an interesting encounter.
UP is attempting to claim its first-ever UAAP title, anchored on their depth, led by national team standout Cristina delos Reyes and last season’s Rookie of the Year Mary Rose Obra. Under the leadership of head coach Anto Gonzales, the Lady Maroons used the positive momentum from its second round surge last season and brought it into this season, winning their first three games. Although they struggled a bit in the next three matches, they did manage to finish strong with back-to-back wins to earn a finals berth.
FEU, meanwhile, is seeking a third straight championship and fourth in the last five seasons. The team is anchored on Season 75 MVP and Season 76 Best Midfielder and Striker Barbie Sobredo, with scoring threats coming from Ina Araneta, Sharmaine Siaotong, and Cha Fagaragan. Under head coach Let Dimzon, they ran off five wins in their next six matches after losing their season opener, becoming the first team to book their finals seat.
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