On paper, everything is going according to plan for Far Eastern University-Diliman in its quest for a 13th consecutive championship and a football treble in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament.
After three matches, FEU-D sits atop the six-team standings with nine points, a plus-9 goal difference, and zero goals conceded.
It’s a case of “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” even with a new man at the helm—Jake Morallo.
A long-time assistant coach for FEU’s high school and collegiate programs, Morallo has finally taken over as the Baby Tamaraws’ head coach.
His promotion was long overdue, given his extensive experience coaching youth teams and his playing career with clubs like JPV Marikina and FC Loyola Meralco.
Despite the pressure of maintaining FEU-D’s dominance, the 36-year-old tactician remains composed.
His trust in his players was evident in their 2-0 win over Ateneo de Manila University last Wednesday, despite struggling to convert chances in the first half.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“It was our game plan. We tried to play direct and behind sa backline nila because if we do that we have the advantage kase mas eager, mas mabilis ‘yung attacking side namin. Nagpasok kami ng mga fast players but then di siya masyado na-utilize at di kami nakascore,” he said after the victory over the Blue Eagles.
“There were chances, di lang makascore, pero dalawang side ‘yung pinagplanuhan namin dun na ma-sustain din ‘yung play namin in the first half. Then yun, even though walang score doon na nangyari, still nagawan naman ng boys ‘yung play in the first half. And then in the second half, I think magandang adjustment at nagka-early goals in the first five minutes.”
While FEU-D is in a strong position, the 12-time defending champion knows there is still a long road ahead. Over the years, the Baby Tamaraws have faced tough finals matches against teams like the De La Salle Junior Archers and the NU-Nazareth School Bullpups. Maintaining a one-game-at-a-time mindset is crucial to sustaining their winning mentality.
For Morallo, the focus remains on what he and his players can control—improving day by day and game by game.
“We keep our way na paano kami maglaro, paano kami mag-attack and defend. And I think sa nakikita namin, sinabihan ko na sila before na may mga ups and downs ‘yung nakikita natin. We just have to prepare sa adjustments,” he said.
“Just like ngayon, sa mga nakita namin sa past games, marami kami talagang nakikita na mga problema. ‘Yun ‘yung ipo-polish pa namin sa training namin.”
