By: Nicole Parallag
Jelan Pabuaya’s brace powered Far Eastern University to a 4-1 victory over a gritty University of the Philippines side, keeping the Lady Tamaraws atop the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football standings on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The Fighting Maroons stunned the Tamaraws in the 26th minute when Erissa Rivas found the back of the net to open the scoring.
FEU, however, responded after the restart, with Judie Arevalo finding the equalizer in the 58th minute to give the Morayta-based squad the lead and swing the momentum in its favor.
Pabuaya then extended the Lady Tamaraws’ advantage in the 80th minute, completing her brace before Knazeya Abellar sealed the victory in the 86th minute.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The result mirrored FEU’s first-round performance against UP on September 26, when the Tamaraws secured a commanding 4-0 win. The victory also extended their winning streak to 21 matches.
With the win, FEU maintained its dominant run at the top of the standings with 24 points and an impressive plus-24 goal difference.
“Lagi ko namang sine-set sa players na they always set the standard when it comes sa mga games, bonus na lang yung mga panalo,” said head coach Let Dimzon.
“But during the game also, sabi ko, we need to get better and improve yung quality of play namin. Yan ang pinaka objective namin, sa remaining games namin, magfocus parin sa development nung play,” the decorated head coach continued.
The result also confirmed De La Salle University’s twice-to-beat advantage in the season, with the Lady Booters sitting in second place with 19 points.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Despite the loss, UP had already secured a Final Four berth, benefiting from a 1-1 draw between Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas earlier in the day.
The Fighting Maroons remained in third place with 12 points and a goal difference of zero.
FEU will look to sustain its winning momentum when it faces Final Four hopeful Ateneo on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the same venue.
Meanwhile, UP will aim to bounce back when it takes on fellow semifinalist De La Salle at 4:30 p.m.
