Match Friday
(Rizal Memorial Stadium)
5 p.m. – UST vs FEU
Far Eastern University’s title defense now hangs by a thread, while University of Santo Tomas senses a long-awaited breakthrough within reach.
What once looked like a smooth path back to the final for the defending champions has turned into a win-or-go-home battle, as the Tamaraws and the Golden Booters collide anew in a sudden-death semifinal match Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
For FEU, it is about keeping its crown alive.
For UST, it is about ending an eight-year drought and punching a ticket back to the championship stage for the first time since UAAP Season 80 (2018).
UST forced the decider after carving out a gritty 2-1 comeback that wiped out FEU’s twice-to-beat advantage last Sunday.
The victor will earn the right to face University of the Philippines, which defeated De La Salle University in the other Final Four pairing, 1-0, in extra time, also last Sunday, in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Final on February 23.
For the Tamaraws, the collapse served as a harsh reminder of how fragile a lead can be.
FEU drew first blood through Selwyn Mamon’s 28th-minute opener but failed to sustain its grip, unraveling after halftime as the Golden Booters flipped the match behind goals from Archie Belluga and Kyler Escobar.
“Early second half, nawala yung concentration ng team. We were relaxed siguro, duon nangyari yung chances ng UST,” said FEU coach Jake Morallo. “Out of concentration, especially sa transition namin, duon kami nawala. It’s something we need to fix.”
Now staring at a do-or-die scenario for the first time in their title defense, Morallo is ready to make adjustments to neutralize UST’s deadly transition play.
More than tactics, however, he emphasized urgency.
“We have to change a bit yung game plan namin. We will play 100% and paghandaan namin sila sa lahat ng places sa game,” said Morallo.
On the other side, belief is swelling inside the UST camp.
Golden Booters coach Marjo Allado credited Sunday’s turnaround not to a drastic tactical overhaul, but to a shift in mindset.
Down at the break, UST leaned on character — embodied by skipper Kyler Escobar — to turn the tide.
Difficult situations call for leaders to emerge, and Escobar proved why he wears the armband.
“Escobar led by example. In the second half, pinakita niya na, ‘I am the team captain, I have to lead the team,'” Allado said. “Character is a big thing. He pulled his teammates along, including the defenders who didn’t give up even while suffering from cramps.”
Yet despite being one win away from a historic return to the final, Allado is keeping his squad grounded.
UST had to empty its tank just to overcome FEU for the first time this Season 88.
To finally break through after eight years, the Golden Booters know they must dig even deeper.
“Di kami pwedeng maging overconfident. FEU is a strong team, technical, and fitness-wise, mataas,” Allado said. “Matira matibay talaga. We focused more on the mental side for the players because that’s important, especially since we have rookies.”
