Selwyn Mamon may have had his best campaign yet representing Far Eastern University, but the end of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament left him wanting more.
Mamon concluded the campaign as the league’s most lethal attacker, taking home both the Best Striker award and the Golden Boot after netting 11 goals.
However, he was forced to miss the February 23 final due to an accumulated yellow card suspension picked up during FEU’s Final Four series against the University of Santo Tomas.
Without their primary goal-scorer, the Tamaraws lacked a focal point in the final third and eventually yielded their crown in a dramatic 2-1 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons in the championship match. While the situation was difficult to accept, Mamon maintained a professional perspective on how things unfolded.
“At the end of the day, it’s all football. May mga gantong pang moments na nangyayari sa isang game,” said the former Baby Tamaraw.
“We should bounce back na lang po next season and mas pagahandaan na lang namin lalo.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The sting of the final loss is compounded by a significant roster turnover in Morayta. With the likes of Mon Diansuy, Mel Anthony Baylon, Ace Amita, RJ Pescadera, and Khent Brian Valenzuela graduating, Mamon — who still has two playing years left — understands that his role must evolve from being just a goalscorer to becoming a leader inside the locker room.
Despite the looming departures, his faith in the ‘Tamaraw Way’ remains steadfast. He believes the transition will be seamless as long as the younger players embrace the established culture.
“So yun na nga, marami po kaming mag-seniors na ga-graduate po this season. Kailangan po mag-step up kaming natitirang seniors. Dapat mai-lead namin ng maayos yung team,” he said.
“Naniniwala pa rin po ako sa system ng FEU, the way we play sa game, kasi nga madali lang ang system namin as long as willing sila matuto mula sa seniors and sa mga coaches.”
Watching his teammates battle through 120 grueling minutes in the final only deepened Mamon’s respect for them. Although they fell short of securing back-to-back titles, the Golden Boot winner took pride in the resilience they showed against UP.
“Sobrang proud po ako sa team ko. Alam ko, binigay nila lahat hanggang patapos yung game, and very happy ako sa performance nila. Sobrang proud ako sa kanila,” said the 5-foot-11 forward.
Mamon is already viewing the offseason as a period for both personal and collective recalibration, especially as the competition continues to grow tougher each year.
As the Season 88 scoring king, he has set a high bar for himself. Next season, his objective is clear: a return to the UAAP summit alongside the rest of the Tamaraws.
“Next season, mas lalo namin paghahandaan yung mga teams po kasi nga mas lalo nag-i-improve pa yung ibang mga teams,” Mamon noted.
“Mas kailangan din namin, di lang ako, mag-step up sa game po namin.”
