Now that Far Eastern University has emerged as the champion of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Tournament, head coach Let Dimzon and captain Inday Tolentin paid tribute to the person who carried them across the finish line — Jonela Albiño.
With the game tied at one-all and a penalty shootout looming against De La Salle University during last Thursday’s final, Albiño, who hails from Barotac Nuevo, unleashed a powerful free kick in the 112th minute, which sealed the championship for the Lady Tamaraws.
If there was a way to win the championship, that was it. Thanks to Albiño’s intervention, FEU is now the most successful program in the women’s division with 12 championships and is on course to complete a treble for the fourth time in its history.
“Actually, ‘ayan’ yung spot ni Albiño. ‘Yan’ yung favorite niya sa training at ‘pina-practice’ niya talaga. Kapag may foul ‘dun’ sa area na ‘yan, si Albiño ‘yung talagang kukuha,” said Dimzon.
“From the last time na nag free kick siya, sabi niya hindi daw siya prepared ‘dun’. Kapag ‘sineryoso’ daw niya kasi, hindi pumapasok kaya ngayon sinasabi niya na sigurado talaga ‘yung goal na ‘yun kasi ‘pinraktis’ niya ‘yun.”
“Sobrang proud since the first game until now, grabe talaga ‘yung work niya,” said Tolentin, who scored 10 goals this season and bagged the Most Valuable Player, Golden Boot, and Best Striker awards.
“Makikita talaga ‘yung puso niya. Siya kasi ‘yung co-captain ko. After me, siya. Pero para sa akin, siya ang pinakamagaling sa lahat.”
(C) Zoida Caga/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
In all three matches between FEU and La Salle this Season 86, the former always had the latter’s number despite conceding the first goal.
Maria Layacan broke the deadlock for the Lady Booters early in the final, only for Tolentin to equalize right at the stroke of halftime, which paved the way for Albiño’s eventual heroics.
FEU ended the tournament with nine straight wins, repeating the feat that La Salle achieved back in Season 79 when the latter had the likes of Inna Palacios, Sara Castañeda, and Irish Navaja in its lineup.
Indeed, it does not get better than this. All those blood, sweat, and tears were worth it in the end for the Lady Tamaraws.
“Andun pa rin ‘yung eagerness na panalunin ‘yung game namin,” said Tolentin. “Ito’ ‘yung pinakaimportante sa lahat.
“Kasi sa mga preparasyon namin, maaga kaming gumigising, marami kaming challenges na nararanasan, pero ito ‘yung kinalabasan ng paghihirap namin. Meron po kaming mga lapses pero wala na ‘yun kasi naipanalo namin ‘yung game.”
