Sisters Regine and Althea Rebosura stole the show helping defending champion Far Eastern University dismantle De La Salle University, 3-1, in a preview of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Final on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Regine, the elder Rebosura, earned a penalty in the 31st minute thanks to a foul from La Salle defender Maye Mendaño, which Erma Balacua converted in the 32nd minute.
Althea then scored in the 42nd minute to give the Lady Tamaraws their first taste of the lead.
“Highlight ko lang talaga yung performance ng dalawang Rebosura,” said coach Let Dimzon.
“Sila talaga yung nagdala dun sa harapan eh. They had a lot of good passes and then yung chemistry ng dalawa. We had a lot of chances din in front because of their passes,” the long-time FEU mentor added.
FEU then sealed full points near the start of the second half thanks to Dionesa Tolentin, who came off the bench in the 39th minute for Gwen Estrada.
Tolentin received the ball in the La Salle box, and with so much space and time to steady herself, shot past goalkeeper Alexandrea Gumilao in the 50th minute.
The Lady Tamaraws sealed first place with one game to go in the elimination round as they increased their tally to 21 points and a plus-18 goal difference.
“Yung na-gauge namin ngayon is yung performance ng mga second stringer namin, which is malaking bagay in preparation for the final. We saw kung sino yung possible naming makuha from the bench. I think pinakamagandang performance nila (this season) ay yung ngayong game against La Salle and halos lahat nag-perform,” said Dimzon.
On the other hand, La Salle will finish the elimination round in second place as it retained 15 points and a plus-14 goal difference after experiencing its second defeat to FEU this season.
Similar to the Lady Booters’ first-round 3-2 loss to the Lady Tamaraws last March 16, the former first broke the deadlock.
Shai Del Campo opened the scoring in the 26th minute, but that was as good as it got for La Salle as it failed to get the job done against FEU yet again.
Both schools will end the elimination round this Saturday at the same venue.
FEU will face Ateneo de Manila University at 4 p.m. while La Salle will go up against University of the Philippines at 6:30 p.m.
The XI:
DLSU XI: Gumilao (GK), Delos Reyes (C), Isulat, Otom, Maligalig, Layacan, Teves, Mendaño, Del Campo, Santiago, Danoso.
FEU XI: Elauria (GK), Altiche, Cuenco, Magbitang, Balacua, Albiño, A Rebosura, Estrada, Ansabor, Tulabing, R Rebosura.
