Now that its campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament has ended, De La Salle University is reflecting on another silver finish, having fallen to Far Eastern University.
As the Lady Tamaraws celebrated their dramatic 3-2 victory, which secured them a league-record 13th championship and third straight title, the Lady Booters lamented yet another crown slipping away.
“Ito na yun. Last na to. No regrets, ginawa naman namin lahat pero di talaga para sa amin,” said Mendaño, who scored the Lady Booters’ second equalizer during the match.
“Lagi lang nasa isip ko, pag napasok ko to sa net, may chance pa, but then, yun nga, lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila we make it easy for us but harder for them. And naging baliktad kasi parang yung last goal nila, mas naging madali sa kanila.”
“Of course, I’m really sad with the result,” said Del Campo. “We wanted to exit as seniors with the win, with the championship. As we all say, we did our best, but it’s not the result that we wanted. I’m really proud of my teammates for putting on a good show, for putting in their biggest effort, and ending this season with pure dedication and passion.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The match saw FEU draw first blood with Judie Arevalo’s 28th-minute goal, only for Chenny Mae Dañoso to equalize for La Salle five minutes later. However, the Lady Tamaraws regained the lead before halftime with a penalty by Carmela Altiche, awarded after Lady Booters defender Maegan Alforque fouled Marinelle Cristobal.
After Mendaño’s free kick, Regine Rebosura sealed the win for FEU with a header, clinching their title. La Salle coach Ocampo credited FEU’s determination and expressed his gratitude to his current players, especially the seniors, including Del Campo and Mendaño.
“Both teams played their best. They tried to beat each other; it so happened the result went with FEU,” Ocampo said. “They’re fighting for the game, fighting for the last game. It’s a bad thing it just went the other way. Still, three-peat for them, we’re second place. Masakit sa masakit. It’s hard to accept, but as coaches, we have to think of the following year already.
“Thankful ako sa mga kids, sa team na to (because) they listened, they accepted their journey. To the seniors here, they controlled the team, kept everything together, committed to training, and had no excuses. I won’t have any other way to have this team again, but madaming ga-graduate. We have to go back as coaches. We need to have meetings and look for our next step again.”
For Del Campo, the women’s final capped off a hectic few months that included not only playing for La Salle but also representing the country at last month’s AFF Women’s Futsal Championship.
Despite the challenges of balancing everything, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Yes, I would say that it’s a busy year,” she said. “I think every year naman with La Salle, with the national team, it’s always busy, and it’s a matter of juggling academics and responsibilities as a collegiate player and a national team player.
“I’m thankful for all those opportunities. In La Salle, they trusted me to lead the team, in the national team, they trusted me to play even though I don’t play futsal that much, and they still gave me that opportunity to represent the country.”
Mendaño and Del Campo have been with La Salle for 6-7 years. Both players were rookies when the Lady Booters won the Season 81 crown at the expense of the Lady Tamaraws, and the duo returned after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that their UAAP eligibility has ended, both players shared their plans to maintain their playing careers.
“Yeah, this is my final game,” said Mendaño.
“I’ll always be rooting for La Salle pa rin. ‘We bleed green’ ika nga ng La Salle. So far, I’ll go pro, my heart is with Kaya FC pa rin.”
“Now that I’m done with La Salle, I think I’ll focus more on that now with the national team,” said Del Campo. “It’s a new story for me.
“I guess it’s more about bringing the team together; it’s always different when you’re on a collegiate team because the relationship you have with all your teammates is deeper. So, yeah, I want to give that energy, that relationship with all my national teammates.”
