Third-best no more.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Men’s Football Team (MFT) are back on top of the heap as it beat the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 2-1, to claim the UAAP Season 88 title on Monday, Feb. 23, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, 442 days after the heartbreaking end of its Season 87 campaign at the hands of the same team.
Never too late for the State
After besting the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Booters in their semifinal thriller, the Fighting Maroons entered their second final in three years in high spirits and with five more days of rest than the Tamaraws.
If FEU were tired, they didn’t show it. Forward Theo Libarnes put the Tamaraws ahead only two minutes into the game with a low drive, but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s offside flag.
Though UP dominated possession, FEU posed a formidable threat on the counter. Karl Absalon, whose goal knocked State U out in the semis last year, nearly opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but his stinging shot was saved by goalie Fonzy Gonzalez.
Absalon would not be denied for long, however, as he caught the UP defense slacking in first half stoppage time, heading a deflected cross past Gonzalez to give FEU the lead.
Putting everything on the line, the Maroons came at the Tamaraws in the second half with renewed vigor but to no avail. UP’s frustration mounted as attempts by Joseph Garces and Ramil Bation III were fended off by a desperate FEU defense led by keeper Mon Diansuy.
As the second half came to a close, the Diliman-based squad was in need of a savior. It came, as it always did, in dramatic fashion.
In the seventh minute of added time, Florenz Tacardon was pulled down in the FEU box, and UP skipper Charles Lobitaña coolly slotted the resulting penalty past Diansuy with the last kick of the half to send the final into extra time.
With FEU tiring as extra time wore on, the Maroons pounced once more. Substitute Ken Saludez played down the left flank in the 103rd minute and his cross found Bation, who tucked the ball past Diansuy’s reach and into the net.
Without the services of top scorer Selwyn Mamon, goalscoring chances for FEU were few and far between then the Tamaraws ran out of gas as the final whistle blew.
20-21 Vision
After losing its crown in Season 87, UP is once more at the UAAP summit after winning its second title in three years and 20th overall. Though it came at the expense of the Tamaraws, who knocked UP out last season, MFT tactician Popoy Clarino refuses to see the win as an act of vengeance.
“We don’t like to call it revenge because for us, we don’t see it as winning [or] losing,” the gaffer said in an interview with Tinig ng Plaridel. “What matters to us is how we approach each game, how we improve as individuals and how we improve as a team.”
The Final marked the end of a long and gruelling season for UP that started in September and saw State U play in Cavite, Manila and on home turf in Diliman. They started the season on fire but shifted tactics after qualifying for the semis with four games in hand.
“The four games after [qualifying for] the semifinals, we just concentrated. We made sure that everyone’s healthy [and] that we cover the things that we need to cover,” said Clarino.
The shift in mentality paid off tenfold as the Fighting Maroons thrice rescued themselves at the death with clutch results against UST, DLSU and FEU. In the midst of celebration, Clarino made sure to remain grounded.
“Whenever we play, we honor the UP community [and] we serve the people.”
Also echoing the team’s grounded mentality was skipper and defensive lynchpin Charles Lobitaña, who led the league’s strongest defense by conceding eight goals in fourteen games. Inheriting the captaincy from Macky Tobias, Lobitaña’s focus was on continuity.
“Wala namang masyadong nagbago from last season, tinuloy ko lang kung anong culture namin na palagi as a UP Men’s Football Team. And for Season 89, siguro mas tataasan pa namin ‘yong standard,” he said.
Marshalling the Maroons from the back, Lobitaña was witness to many of UP’s nail-biting late antics, which included a late Shan Lorque winner against UST and Ramil Bation’s long-range free kick in the semis against DLSU.
In the final, however, the skipper was thrust into the spotlight, stepping up to the spot late-on to hand UP a crucial equalizer. With everyone else on tenterhooks, Lobitaña was unflappable.
“Pag napasok ko ‘yon, champion kami,” the captain said with a grin on his face.
Lobitaña’s contributions bagged him the Best Defender Award and Finals Co-MVP, which he shared with Florenz Tacardon. A bevy of other awards went to the UP MFT, including the Fair Play award for the entire team and Best Goalkeeper for Fonzy Gonzalez.
The captain, however, is quick to downplay the accolades.
“For us kasi, [bonuses] ‘yong mga awards na yan. ‘Yong goal talaga namin is mag-champion,” he said.
After a lengthy season, the Fighting Maroons will take a month-long break before returning later in the year to defend their throne in Season 89. Lobitaña, a senior by then, is dreaming big.
“Isang taon pa ako. Back-to-back.”
