Four-time defending champion Far Eastern University begins its quest for an unprecedented fifth straight UAAP women’s football title as an expanded Season 89 tournament kicks off on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The Lady Tamaraws headline a six-team field that also includes last year’s finalist De La Salle University, third-placer Ateneo de Manila University, perennial contenders University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines, and newcomer National University.
FEU opens its title defense against NU at 7:00 PM in the main game of Wednesday’s triple-header. La Salle and UP clash at 2:00 PM to open the tournament, followed by UST and Ateneo at 4:30 PM.
With the addition of the Lady Bulldogs, the tournament will adopt a Final Four format for the first time. The top two teams at the end of the elimination round will earn a twice-to-beat advantage over the third- and fourth-placers in the semifinals.
FEU head coach Let Dimzon welcomed the changes, saying the arrival of NU should make the competition more exciting.
“I think it’s very good for women’s football and for the UAAP,” said FEU coach Let Dimzon. “Having NU join the competition makes the league more exciting because of the new format.”
Despite the pressure that comes with defending the crown and chasing a ‘five-peat,’ Dimzon wants her players to remain focused on the task at hand rather than the potential milestone.
“Of course, there is always pressure when you are the defending champion, especially after winning four consecutive championships. But I don’t want the players to focus too much on the five-peat,” she said.
“For us, the goal is to focus on the process — how we train, how we compete, how we improve every game, and how we play for FEU. If we do those things well, then hopefully the results will follow.”
Standing in FEU’s way on opening day is an NU side eager to make an immediate impression in its first UAAP campaign.
Lady Bulldogs coach Ryan Payson said the team has been preparing for its Season 89 debut for more than a year. Both the coaching staff and the players are excited to finally test itself against the league’s established programs.
Rather than feel intimidated by the challenge of facing more experienced teams, Payson wants NU to begin proving itself by competing with the defending champions and producing a positive result.
(C) NU Athletics Office
“Well, for one, the whole team, including the coaching staff, is very excited because it is the first time NU will participate in a women’s football game,” said Payson. “So lahat ng players ko, excited now to play sa first game against FEU — a very competitive team — but we will try our best to be at par with everything here in the UAAP.”
Opening the day is a matchup between Season 88 finalist La Salle and UP, which is looking to return to the podium for the first time since finishing third in Season 86.
For UP coach Anto Gonzales, who guided the Fighting Maroons to the championship in Season 78, reaching the Final Four is the primary objective this season.
“We joined the PWL and were able to give ample exposure to all of the players from our UAAP pool. We have six new players — one is Aurea Reaso, a senior who missed last season due to a knee injury, and two others who served their residency,” he said.
UST and Ateneo, meanwhile, begin their respective campaigns hoping to build on their recent podium finishes.
The Lady Booters won bronze in Season 87, while the Blue Eagles claimed third place in Season 88, giving both teams plenty of motivation to make another deep run this season.
UST coach Marjo Allado said his squad enters the tournament well prepared after a competitive offseason, with players fighting for spots in the final lineup.
“Maayos naman ‘yung preparation at ‘yung players — including ‘yung mga galing high school program na nag-move up na sa senior team. Players are ready, and during the camp, meron laging competition sa trainings para lang makasama sa final 23 line-up,” he said.
Ateneo head coach Bob Manlulo, meanwhile, is keeping his team’s objectives straightforward: improve its system, develop its rookies, and translate that progress into better results despite missing out on preseason tournaments.
“We’re hoping to improve our performance this year by achieving better results and improvement in every game,” Manlulo said.
The longtime Blue Eagles mentor also welcomed the new Final Four format, saying it gives the women’s division more opportunities to compete while providing teams with a clearer path to the Finals.
“For us, it’s a big chance,” Manlulo added.
“Every game is crucial, and having that Final Four setup gives us and every other team a real shot if we stay consistent throughout the elimination round.”
