Regine Rebosura has proven that dreams do come true in the UAAP. She achieved this feat with her brace, which led Far Eastern University to its 11th championship in the women’s football event, defeating De La Salle University.
The 21-year-old Season 85 gold medalist has come a long way from her humble beginnings. She grew up in Payatas and learned the basics of the sport from coach Roy Moore in the Payatas Football Club and the Fairplay For All Foundation’s program.
Football has transformed her life in unimaginable ways. During her upbringing, she played football merely to pass the time amidst her family’s hardships. It provided her with an escape from reality, as her parents, being blue-collar workers, struggled to make ends meet for her and her five siblings.
The sport granted her the opportunity to become a legend for FEU. As a Sports Science student, she scored in the 47th and 118th minutes of the match, securing the Lady Tamaraws their first championship since Season 77 and giving the school its third treble in history.
“Hindi ko inaasahan na makakakuha ako ng dalawang goals,” she said.
“Ang hangad ko lamang ay manalo kami at magtulungan sa loob ng field. Hindi kami sisihan sa loob ng field dahil kailangan naming mag-focus at magkaroon ng konsentrasyon at disiplina.”
Amidst Rebosura’s goals, La Salle managed to score one just before the end of regulation. Shai Del Campo’s goal in the 90+10 minute gave the Taft school hope of successfully defending their title.
Ultimately, however, Rebosura and her teammates dug deep to accomplish their task. Instead of letting their spirits drop and losing motivation, they found the willpower to persevere in dramatic circumstances.
“Nung nagka-all kami, lahat kami ay nalungkot dahil hindi namin alam kung paano ulit kami makaka-goal, parang nag-umpisa ulit sa zero. Hindi namin alam kung paano kami makaka-goal, parang nagsimula ulit dahil nagkapantay-pantay,” she recalled.
“Muling nag-focus kami sa pagbuo ng atake, muling lumaban, at muling bumangon kapag kami ay nadapa sa loob ng field. Hindi kami sumusuko.”
Rebosura played a significant role throughout the Lady Tamaraws’ title-winning season. She scored a total of six goals, one of which secured FEU’s place in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the University of the Philippines on April 29.
Her performances have earned her the rare distinction of receiving two individual awards: Rookie of the Year and Best Midfielder. Not bad for a player who primarily played futsal and is still adjusting to the 11-a-side game.
“Sobrang ipinagmamalaki ko ang sarili ko dahil nakuha ko ang Rookie of the Year at Best Midfielder. Hindi ko ito inaasahan. Ang importante lang sa akin ay ibigay ko ang best ko sa loob ng laro at ito ay para sa mama ko na hindi nakapanood,” she shared.
Now that she is a UAAP gold medalist with two individual awards, Rebosura wants to see more players coming from challenging circumstances in life and changing their lives for the better through football.
“Una, siyempre nagpapasalamat ako sa coach ko sa Payatas kasi siya yung nag-create sa akin at nagturo kung paano ako matututo ng football eh. Wala ako dito kung wala siya kasi siya lahat dahilan kung bakit ako nandito kasi lagi siyang nagmo-motivate sa akin,” she said. “Siyempre din yung coach namin dito sa FEU, si Coach Let [Dimzon] at lahat ng coaches. Sila yung dahilan kung bakit nandito ako ngayon.
“Masasabi ko lang sa mga bata na ipagpatuloy lang nila yung talent nila kasi diyan sila magkakaroon ng opportunity para mapakita nila sa lahat ng tao na may talent sila, na hindi lang sila nandun sa isang lugar. Kailangan nila ipakita yung talent at ilabas nila yung galing nila.”
