Boasting an expanded field and a refreshed format, the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament is set to be the biggest edition yet in league history when it kicks off on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Defending champion University of Santo Tomas faces a daunting challenge in its title defense as the competition expands to a record seven teams.
After pulling off a historic upset of 12-time defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman in last season’s dramatic final, UST — powered by key holdover James Sunog — must once again prove its mettle against six determined challengers in an unprecedented seven-team field.
Perennial contenders De La Salle Zobel and Ateneo de Manila University return to the fray, joined by guest schools Claret School of Quezon City and PAREF Southridge School. Completing the record field is league newcomer Adamson University, while a motivated FEU-D aims to reclaim the crown it relinquished a year ago.
Season 88 officially gets underway at 2:00 PM with a clash between two teams carrying contrasting narratives.
Making their UAAP debut, the Baby Falcons of Adamson face a baptism of fire as they open their maiden campaign against FEU-D, which is eager to begin its redemption tour on a high note.
“Sa juniors, masakit yung nangyari sa amin,” said FEU-D coach Jake Morallo. “First round and second round, wala kami talo. Doon lang sa championship match against UST. Hindi pa rin nawawala, especially sa akin.
“Jerriemy Biton will be back din. Mas looking forward siya makabawi this season. We are hoping na maibalik namin yung korona. Alam namin na kaya, especially with the squad namin. Ngayon, tatrabaho kami almost every day, so I think we’re ready.”
Following the Baby Falcons–Baby Tamaraws showdown, Claret School and De La Salle Zobel collide at 4:30 PM.
Claret is determined to make a stronger impression in its second UAAP stint after a difficult debut season that produced just one win in 10 matches — a dramatic 3–2 triumph over La Salle on the final day of the Season 87 elimination round.
La Salle, meanwhile, is equally desperate for an opening-day victory to erase the bitter memory of its late-season collapse last year. The Junior Green Booters closed Season 87 on a five-game losing streak that spanned the second round and the Final Four, and they are keen to snap that skid on Saturday against one of the teams that handed them a defeat.
The opening matchday concludes with a compelling rematch between Ateneo and Southridge. Their last meeting — a hard-fought 1–1 draw late in the Season 87 eliminations — proved pivotal for the Admirals, supplying the crucial point that secured the fourth seed and ignited their fairytale run to the Final Four.
A winning start could be crucial for both Ateneo and Southridge, especially given how little separated them last season. With just a single point determining their fate a year ago, and both teams enduring difficult opening rounds, early points will be vital to avoid another late-season scramble.
While the spotlight shines on Saturday’s opening-day clashes, UST will bide its time as the defending champion, set to open its title defense against La Salle on January 24 at 2:00 PM at the same venue.
