As defending champion Far Eastern University and second-placed De La Salle University prepare to face off Wednesday in a match with major postseason implications in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament, both teams will be led by coaches whose paths have been intertwined for decades in local women’s football.
Let Dimzon, who is on the verge of leading FEU to its sixth consecutive championship-round appearance, go head-to-head with Joyce Landagan, who hopes to bring La Salle back to the top after four straight runner-up finishes.
Despite the longstanding rivalry between the Lady Tamaraws and Lady Booters, the mutual respect between Dimzon and Landagan transcends the intensity of competition. Beyond their pursuit of glory, both coaches share a greater mission: helping women’s football grow in the country.
“It’s also exciting for me personally because some of my former teammates and UAAP rivals are now my rivals in coaching,” said Dimzon. “Dati, magkakasama kami or magkakalaban as players, and ngayon, sa sidelines naman kami naglalaban. It’s nice to see how we’ve all grown and how our roles in football have evolved.
“Joyce, [La Salle assistant] Elyo Dillera, and [commentator] Marielle Benitez were my former teammates in the National Team, while Marielle and Elyo were also my batchmates during our UAAP days. Joyce was also my assistant coach with the U14 Girls Youth National Team in 2013–2014.”
Landagan faces the daunting task of dethroning Dimzon and her Lady Tamaraws, who have dominated UAAP women’s football in recent years. Since the pandemic, FEU has captured four consecutive championships, with La Salle finishing as runner-up in each of those title runs.
Having worked closely with Dimzon over the years, Landagan considers the FEU mentor a guiding influence in her coaching career. Although they will be rivals on Wednesday and in the seasons to come, Landagan believes their relationship will continue to help them sharpen their coaching abilities—not only for their own benefit but also for the growth of the local coaching community.
“Yes, full-circle moment,” said Landagan. “Actually, excited of course, kasi siyempre, you get to at least see ‘yung mga na-learn mo din sa kanya and paano mo i-aapply — ‘yun nga lang, magkalaban kami ngayon.
“Pero I think ‘yun ‘yung kinagandahan sa relationship namin, lalo na ‘yung mga women’s coaches here in the Philippines: magkalaban man kami sa mga liga, but we learn a lot from each other.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Dimzon shares the same sentiment, having established herself as one of the most prominent figures in Philippine football over the past decade.
“So, there’s already a history and a lot of shared experiences there,” said the FEU lifer. “Of course, when we compete, we all want to win and bring out the best in our teams. Pero beyond the rivalry, I have a lot of respect for them because we share the same passion for football.
“At the end of the day, we may be competing against each other, but we’re also working toward the same goal, which is to help women’s football grow and give the next generation of players more opportunities to succeed.”
A victory over La Salle on Wednesday would secure FEU’s sixth consecutive championship-round appearance dating back to Season 81 and move the Lady Tamaraws within one win of a fifth straight title.
The result would also set up a stepladder postseason format, with either Ateneo de Manila University or the University of Santo Tomas joining the University of the Philippines and La Salle in the battle for the right to challenge FEU for the championship.
For the Lady Tamaraws, however, the objective remains straightforward: win.
“Winning against La Salle will put us in a better position to secure our spot in the Final, and it will also give my players more time to recover from the tight schedule,” said Dimzon. “Of course, we know how important this game is, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on the players.
“My job is to prepare them, make sure na naiintindihan nila ‘yung system, and give them the confidence to execute our game plan. The rest will depend on how we prepare and how we perform on the pitch. Kung gusto talaga nilang manalo, they have to show that through their energy, commitment, and performance.”
For La Salle, meanwhile, a victory would provide a significant confidence boost, as the Lady Booters have not beaten FEU since the elimination round of Season 85. Even a defeat, however, would not be disastrous, as La Salle would remain just one match away from securing a place in the Final Four.
With that in mind, Landagan wants her players to concentrate on their immediate task rather than get caught up in the broader postseason implications of the high-stakes encounter.
“Actually, one game at a time. Ang importante sa amin ay ‘yung next game namin. Whatever happens from there, then kami mag-iisip for our next game, but our focus right now is really to recover,” said Landagan.
Dimzon and Landagan may find themselves on opposite sides of the pitch on Wednesday, but their relationship and shared mission extend far beyond the outcome of a single match.
For both coaches, the ultimate goal is bigger than championships and rivalries: creating more opportunities for the next generation and helping women’s football flourish in the Philippines.
