Far Eastern University sealed its date with destiny in spectacular fashion, earning the right to extend its reign as the undisputed queen of UAAP women’s football for a fifth consecutive season.
Jelani Pabuaya and Judie Arevalo linked up twice, while Tiffany Trinidad netted a hat-trick to power FEU past Ateneo, 5-1, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Final Four on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.
FEU advances to its sixth consecutive final, scheduled for next Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the same venue, provided the University of the Philippines fails to force a rubber match against De La Salle University later Friday evening. Beyond extending their championship reign, the Lady Tamaraws will also be gunning for their 15th overall title in the division.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“One game at a time, so we need to be focused… i-wo-work up ko ‘yong mental aspect ng players,” said head coach Let Dimzon. “Nagiging do’n kami nagkakaroon ng problem at the very start of the game. Kinakabahan, pero they need to overcome ‘yong kaba na ‘yan para makapag-focus din sila.
“Kailangan lang talaga silang bigyan ng more confidence and then ‘yong motivation… ‘yong response nila do’n sa second half, I think it’s a good way kung papaano namin i-wo-work against whoever na makakalaban namin for the final game,” she added.
Pabuaya and Arevalo set the tone for the defending champions with identical plays on either side of halftime. Pabuaya delivered right-footed passes across the face of the goal, allowing Arevalo to finish from close range in the 45+1st and 51st minutes.
Trinidad then took center stage, finding the back of the net from inside the Ateneo box in the 58th and 68th minutes before completing her hat-trick — and sealing the Lady Tamaraws’ victory — with a spectacular long-range strike in the 88th minute.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“So very chaotic ‘yong first half and then very stressful for me,” said Dimzon. “But the adjustment during the second half—do’n ‘yong early goal na ‘yon, and then the quality passes… dahil since most of them are moving na and then wala nang standing football, so it works. Mental lang talaga ‘yong kailangang i-correct… kung gusto n’yo talagang kuhanin ‘yong game, so you need to work really hard.”
Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles wrapped up their campaign in fourth place after struggling to gain a foothold against the defending champions throughout the match. Jada Bicierro scored a consolation goal in the 90+2nd minute — her fifth of the season — to put Ateneo on the scoreboard before the final whistle.
Ateneo’s elimination guarantees that either UP or La Salle will claim at least the bronze medal this season.
