Matches Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium
2 p.m. — UE vs FEU
4:30 p.m. — AdU vs UST
7 p.m. — Ateneo vs DLSU
Archrivals Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University headline the opening day of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament today (Sunday) at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The season opener, which was delayed to accommodate the Philippine Men’s Under-23 National Team’s campaign in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, sees Ateneo and La Salle cap the first triple-header of the season at 7 p.m.
Before that, University of the East and Season 88 finalist Far Eastern University kick off the tournament at 2 p.m., followed by Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas at 4:30 p.m.
All six teams are chasing University of the Philippines’ crown, with the defending champions beginning their bid for a successful title defense against UST next Thursday at 2 p.m. on their home pitch.
For the Dov Cariño-led Blue Eagles, returning to the Final Four is imperative after missing out on the semifinals in Season 88. Beginning their campaign with a victory over the Green Booters would be an ideal start to that quest.
“Our goal this season is to compete at the highest level and put ourselves in a position to reach the Final Four and, hopefully, compete for the championship,” said Ateneo coach JP Merida. “We know it won’t be easy, so our focus is to take it one game at a time, and continue improving throughout the season.”
“La Salle is a strong team, and we know it’s going to be a challenging first game. But for us, we’re not looking too far ahead. We’re focused on our preparation. We’re excited to start the season and give our best against them.”
La Salle, meanwhile, will look to not only maintain its Final Four presence but also take the next step, bannered by the likes of striker John Gaverza, goalkeeper Edcel Lauron, and defender Bacchus Ekberg.
After ending a two-year wait to return to the semifinals, the Green Booters are aiming to reach the finals for the first time since Season 81 and capture their first championship since Season 60, while remaining grounded throughout the journey.
“Our target is to compete at the highest level and improve from what we achieved last season,” said Green Booters coach Richard Leyble. “We want to take it game by game, stay consistent throughout the season, and put ourselves in a position to compete for the championship. But our main focus is always on the process — developing the players and performing as a team.”
Moreover, a win over Ateneo on opening day could only whet La Salle’s appetite for further success.
“It’s a good challenge for us,” said Leyble. “Ateneo is always a competitive team, so facing them in our first game will immediately test our preparation and mentality. For us, it’s not about looking too far ahead. We will respect our opponent, focus on our game plan, and make sure that we are ready to compete from the first whistle.”
Another team with legitimate championship aspirations is UST, which was eliminated by FEU in the deciding game of their Final Four clash last season.
Led by holdovers such as Chris Valderama, Rodrigo Mariñas, and Jarred Regis, the Golden Booters are looking to turn last year’s heartbreak into motivation as they chase glory in Season 89.
UST last reached the finals in Season 80 and is seeking to reclaim the crown it last won in Season 69. The Golden Booters are eager to make a strong start at the expense of the Soaring Falcons.
“Last season in semis second leg, fell short kami at yung mga players, di rin nila ma-accept kung ano yung kulang namin in semis last season,” said UST coach Marjo Allado. “In pre-season, na-discuss namin yung mga concerns last UAAP kung bakit we fell short in the second leg, and now all players are ready na for Season 89. Focus sa goal na maging consistent at makuha yung championship.”
To annex the Season 89 crown, however, all teams will have to go through defending champion UP, which looks formidable once again.
With holdovers such as Fonzy Gonzalez and Josh Meriño, who were part of the Asian Games squad alongside Ateneo midfielder Cariño, the Fighting Maroons are looking sharp heading into the new season.
Coach Popoy Clarino, who led UP to the Season 86 and 88 championships, is also eager to get started as he looks to add another title to his growing legacy as the Fighting Maroons mentor.
“We have to be ready every game,” said Clarino. “Based on the schedule, recovery and rest is crucial in this stage. We just need to be able to maximize each and every player on the roster. On the coaching side, the staff will need to work diligently on making sure we can prepare the team the best possible way depending on who our opponents are. We cannot wait to start UAAP Season 89!”
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