Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Jerriemy Biton could only lament how his stellar rookie campaign ended in anticlimactic fashion.
Having won Rookie of the Year, Best Striker, and the Golden Boot awards after an impressive 10-goal performance in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament, Biton was inconsolable as the most coveted prize eluded him — the championship.
As he collected award after award on stage, a sense of failure weighed heavily on him. His counterparts from the University of Santo Tomas celebrated their victory, ending FEU-D’s dynastic reign.
“Okay lang po, pero yung gusto ko po talaga, yung dream ko po talaga, yung mag-champion po ng UAAP at matulungan ko po yung mga graduating namin na mga seniors na makuha nila yung last trophy nila sa FEU,” he shared after the match.
Coming off the bench at halftime, Biton struggled to make an impact in the Junior Golden Booters’ box.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
His best chance was a late-game header that went straight to UST goalkeeper Edcel James Lauron.
It was later revealed that Biton was still recovering from pneumonia, which had affected his sharpness during the match.
In the end, it just wasn’t meant to be for the Baby Tamaraws, but Biton refused to use his condition as an excuse.
“Para sa akin, kinulang po talaga kasi nahirapan po ako huminga dahil po sa ubo. Pero binigay ko naman po yung best ko para makuha yung championship, pero nagkulang lang,” he explained.
For the first time in over a decade, the Baby Tamaraws will be the hunters in Season 88, not the defending champions. As unusual as it is to see FEU-D no longer as the titleholders, UST deservedly earned the crown and will aim to build its own championship streak.
Every setback is an opportunity for a grand comeback, and that is Biton’s goal for his sophomore year.
“Magpa-practice po ng mabuti, magtutulungan po kami lahat at babawiin po namin yung title,” he vowed.
“Para sa akin, for now, bakasyon po muna kami. Magpapahinga po kami, then restart po next season.”
