If Far Eastern University is to keep its grip on the UAAP women’s football crown, Judie Arevalo is making sure the Lady Tamaraws have a familiar weapon leading the charge.
Picking up where she left off last season, the reigning Golden Boot winner has made a blistering start to UAAP Season 89, already topping the tournament’s scoring charts with four goals after back-to-back two-goal performances against University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.
Arevalo once again proved decisive last Saturday. She scored FEU’s second and third goals to help the defending champions escape Ateneo, 3-2, after surrendering a two-goal advantage and allowing the Blue Eagles to draw level.
While the victory kept the Lady Tamaraws’ perfect record intact, the manner in which they secured it served as an early warning that there is still plenty of work to be done.
Fortunately for FEU, the season remains in its early stages, giving the reigning champions ample time to learn from the experience.
“Wag lang magpakampante kasi hindi pa tapos ‘yung oras, and habang may oras pa po, continue lang ‘yung hard work namin. And kailangan nandun pa rin ‘yung eagerness namin manalo,” said Arevalo.
“Hindi kami papayag na mag-draw.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Now in her fourth year with FEU, Arevalo is entering the final chapter of a decorated collegiate career that already includes three UAAP championships and the Season 86 Rookie of the Year award.
With the Lady Tamaraws once again aiming to preserve their dominance in collegiate women’s football, the Barotac Nuevo National Comprehensive High School alumna has taken on an even bigger leadership role. She now aims to guide younger teammates and help instill the discipline needed to maintain FEU’s championship standard.
For Arevalo, however, leadership is not simply about producing goals or winning games. It is also about leaving behind an example that the next generation of Lady Tamaraws can carry forward.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin sa kanila na ‘pag wala na kami, continue lang nila ‘yung pinapakita namin sa kanila, and dapat ma-defend nila ‘yung title if ever makuha namin ito,” said Arevalo.
“Pero ‘di kami papayag na ipakuha namin sa iba ‘yung korona, kasi ‘yung korona dapat nasa Morayta lang.”
With the first round of the tournament set to conclude tomorrow, the Lady Tamaraws are in prime position to defend their crown. The team sits atop the standings with 12 points after four consecutive victories.
Standing in their way is perennial championship rival De La Salle University, which also enters the fixture unbeaten after four straight wins in Season 89.
The rivalry has been heavily tilted in FEU’s favor in recent years. The Lady Tamaraws have defeated the Lady Booters in four consecutive finals series dating back to Season 85. In fact, La Salle’s last victory over FEU came in that same Season 85 campaign, when the Lady Tamaraws fell, 2-3, on March 25, 2023.
Yet even with another high-stakes clash against their longtime rivals looming, Arevalo insists FEU will not stray from the formula that has brought the team sustained success under legendary head coach Let Dimzon.
“Mag-focus lang kami sa training, and every game is important for us kasi ‘yun nga ‘yung sinasabi ni Coach Let, na every game kailangan namin kunin ‘yung panalo — every game.”
