Far Eastern University demonstrated the true heart of a defending champion when it staged a comeback against Ateneo de Manila University, prevailing 2-1 in both teams’ Final Four clash last Thursday in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Football Tournament.
Trailing one-nil after Galen Fernandez’s 28th-minute strike, the Tamaraws reversed the situation with Martini Rey’s stoppage-time header.
Then Sherwin Basindanan’s winning goal during extra time sealed the deal.
It was a display of mental toughness that pleased FEU coach Albert Besa.
“You have to give it to Ateneo,” said the first-year head coach. “They came out and really showed heart and fighting spirit. It was tough to break them down. They worked hard for a goal. They countered our attacks and kept a solid defense.
“So hats off to Ateneo for a good game,” Besa went on. “But in the second half, we realized that our championship might be taken away from us. In the second half, our boys came back with heart as well.
“So this game was not a victory of skill, technique, or tactical – it was heart. This was a game of heart. Ateneo showed it, FEU showed it as well.”
Given the unpredictable nature of the Final Four, FEU could have lost its championship abruptly. Ateneo, under coach JP Merida, is known for defending one-goal leads well.
However, the Tamaraws persisted until they could break down the stubborn Blue Eagles.
Rey, in his final playing year, felt determined not to lose against Ateneo so he could graduate as a UAAP gold medalist. And his equalizer paved the way for Basindanan’s eventual winner.
(C) Nicks Hernandez/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“We didn’t lose hope,” said Rey, who has six goals this season. “Alam namin na every minute and every second, magkakaroon ng breakthrough. We just needed to do a solid last pass and finish, so yung faith lang, yung hope namin ay maka-finish.
“Since yung depensa ng Ateneo naglo-load sila sa gitna, we needed more creativity sa gitna. Napilitan ako na bumaba sa hindi ko normal na postion para lang mailabas ko yung bola sa gilid. Nagkaroon ng breakthorugh sa wing, nagakaroon ng throw-ins at mga set-pieces,” he added.
“We all know that throughout this season kami yung may advantage. Kami mas skillful. Kami yung mga may magagling na player. But the question is, do we have the mental toughness? This game showed how tough we are and how mentality prepared we are.”
When the Tamaraws face the UP Fighting Maroons this Thursday for the championship, they can clinch their 11th championship in the division as well as FEU’s fourth treble in history.
With so much at stake for Besa’s squad, the pressure is on the coaches and players to finish the job.
Amid the high stakes involved, Basindanan was adamant that he and his teammates would simply control what they could come kickoff, keeping their eyes on the prize.
(C) Nicks Hernandez/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“May nakikita ako sa teammate ko na meron nagste-step up. Tsaka yung winning mentality andoon pa rin,” Besa said.
