By: Nicole Parallag
Selwyn Mamon netted a hat trick to power Far Eastern University past 10-man University of the East, 4–1, sending the defending champions back to second place in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament, Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
The 21-year-old striker opened the scoring for the Tamaraws with a close-range tap-in 13 minutes into the match, before putting the game out of reach with quick back-to-back goals in the 71st and 73rd minutes.
Earning the first hat trick of the season, Mamon has now drawn level with Ateneo de Manila University’s Kofi Agyei in the race for the league’s Golden Boot award, with seven goals apiece.
“Very happy na nagtuloy-tuloy yung scoring mentality ni Selwyn,” said FEU head coach Jake Morallo.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UE equalized in the 40th minute after a collision involving FEU’s Carlo Hulagno led to a penalty. Edmar Adonis calmly converted from the spot to send the match into halftime tied at 1–1.
Before Mamon completed his hat trick, Theo Libarnes restored FEU’s lead in the 62nd minute, slotting home the rebound after UE goalkeeper Nickyo Cloma spilled an attempt from Ace Amita.
The win lifted FEU back to second in the standings with 14 points and a +8 goal difference, leapfrogging Ateneo de Manila University—which defeated Adamson University, 4–0, in the later kickoff—and the University of Santo Tomas, which opened the matchday with a 1–0 victory over De La Salle University.
Ateneo and UST both sit on 11 points, with the Blue Eagles holding third due to their superior +6 goal difference over the Golden Booters’ +2.
“Masaya kami sa first game namin in the second round,” said Morallo. “In the first half, alam namin na meron kaming mga bad decisions and forced mistakes, so sa second half maganda naman napakita nila. Nakinig sila, and that’s why nakuha namin yung three goals. Marami kami natutunan from the past game sa Ateneo coming in the second round.”
Unlike their first meeting on October 9—when FEU cruised to a 2–0 win—UE showed greater resilience this time, managing to pull level before halftime.
However, the momentum shifted firmly back to FEU in the second half after Adonis was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving the Red Warriors down to 10 men and unable to recover.
Keith Hermoso nearly pulled one back in stoppage time, but his shot went just inches wide of the post, forcing UE to settle for a lone goal.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Red Warriors remained at the bottom of the table with zero points and a -11 goal difference.
Both teams will return to action on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
UE will face league-leading University of the Philippines at 4:00 p.m., followed by FEU taking on Adamson University at 6:30 p.m.
