Karl Absalon expressed a sense of added satisfaction after scoring the winning goal that propelled Far Eastern University to the final of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament, knocking out dethroned champions University of the Philippines.
Absalon, the Season 85 Rookie of the Year, came off the bench in the first half and netted the crucial goal in the 76th minute, capitalizing on a mishap between UP defender Charles Lobitaña and goalkeeper Alfonso Gonzalez.
Considering that UP defeated FEU just a few months ago to win the Season 86 championship, this victory was especially sweet for Absalon and his teammates.
“For me, talagang gigil na gigil po talaga kami bumawi sa UP kasi, yun nga po, last season final tinalo po kami and first round and second round tabla po kami,” said Absalon.
“Sinabi ni coach (Roman Oliver), dito talaga namin malalaman and dito po kami makakabawi sa Final Four. Thankful po kami na nakapasok kami sa final ngayon.
Absalon added, “Nung sinub po ako, di po ako nakaramdam ng kaba. Sobrang excited po ako na pag ako po pinasok, yung mindset ko po is gusto ko po talaga maka-score para bumawi po sa UP. Yun nga po, di po ako na starting 11 kasi nga namaga yung paa nung nakalaban namin yung UP last game so yun po sinub po ako ni coach.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
What made FEU’s win over UP even more impressive was the fact that the Tamaraws achieved it with just 10 field players, after defender Mel Anthony Baylon was ejected for his role in a melee that also saw UP coach Popoy Clarino dismissed.
For Absalon, though, his team drew strength from the spirit of his older brother Kieth, who played for FEU before tragically passing away after the vehicle he was in ran over a landmine planted by the communist NPA group in Masbate.
“Yung sa jersey ni kuya Kieth talagang helpful. Sampu na lang po kami naglaro kami kanina 45 minutes and alam po namin andyan po siya na ginagabayan niya po kami. Palagi siya po ung pang-11 namin and si God po ung pang-12,” he said.
FEU will face a familiar rival in the final this Sunday: Ateneo de Manila University, which defeated University of Santo Tomas 2-1 to claim the second spot in the title match. In Season 85, the Tamaraws triumphed 4-1 over the Blue Eagles in the final, despite losing both their elimination round encounters.
The scenario is similar this season, as Ateneo defeated FEU in the elimination round. However, with it being a one-off game, anything can happen in the final, and there is no reason for the Tamaraws to be intimidated.
“Yun nga, di pa tapos yung UAAP. Dun palang po kami sa semis. Focus parin po kami na makuha po yung championship this season and kailangan pa namin magpursige sa practice para ma-apply namin sa game,” said Absalon.
“Sa akin, kahit sino po makalaban po namin, bilog naman po ung bola. Kailangan talaga mag-prepare (para) sa upcoming finals and mag-focus po sa goal na makuha yung championship.”
