Football
Charles Lobitaña’s composure amid FEU chase in UAAP Final
Football is a game of fine margins, and for University of the Philippines defender Charles Lobitaña, the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament final was nothing short of a roller coaster.
The road to UP’s second title in three seasons was far from easy for Lobitaña.
In the waning seconds of the first half, a poor clearance from him allowed Far Eastern University midfielder Karl Absalon to strike in the 45+2nd minute, giving the Tamaraws a 1–0 lead and leaving the Fighting Maroons trailing at halftime.
Determined to make up for his early mistake, Lobitaña spent much of the match searching for a way to help his team.
His moment arrived in the 90+9th minute when UP was awarded a penalty after Tacardon drew a foul from FEU’s Francis Sambaan.
With the weight of the championship on his shoulders, Lobitaña calmly stepped up and converted the equalizer past Tamaraws goalkeeper Mon Diansuy, swinging momentum back to the Fighting Maroons.
“Yung nasa isip ko nung napasok ko yung goal — pag napasok ko yun, then tuloy-tuloy na at champion kami,” Lobitaña reflected on that game-changing moment.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
His instinct proved correct. In extra time, Ramil Bation III scored the winning goal in the 104th minute, sealing a 2–1 victory and reclaiming the crown UP last held in Season 86.
After over 120 minutes of intense play, the Fighting Maroons captain stood in front of everyone not just as a two-time UAAP champion, but as the competition’s Best Defender as well as Co-Most Valuable Player alongside fellow UP senior Tacardon.
For Lobitaña, individual accolades were secondary to the team’s triumph.
“Ewan ko kung ano ma-fe-feel ko, pero yung mga awards, ano lang yan eh, bonus na lang sa amin yan,” he admitted. “Ang goal talaga namin is mag-champion at ma-reclaim yung crown namin. Nagawa namin and lahat kami, we’re so happy.”
Hailing from Bukidnon, Lobitaña’s victory was a celebration of his roots and the support system that carried him through the grueling Season 88 campaign. As he held the MVP and championship trophies, his thoughts went immediately to those who cheered him on from afar.
“Siguro sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa UP community, sa mga family ko, sa friends ko sa Bukidnon, sa lahat ng teams ko — para sa kanila ’to lahat,” he said.
While many veterans might see a championship and MVP award as the perfect time to bow out, Lobitaña signaled that his journey with the Fighting Maroons is far from over. With one year of eligibility remaining, the defender is already focusing on defending the title in Season 89.
“Mag-isang taon pa ako kaya gagamitin ko to,” Lobitaña concluded, confirming he will return for a final tour.
The post Charles Lobitaña’s composure amid FEU chase in UAAP Final appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
When the Walukuba Barbarians host the Makerere Impis on Saturday, the target is simple: to seal their stay in the Top 8.
Ever since the Uganda Rugby top league was restructured to the current championship format, the Barbarians have consistently finished in the Top 8 of the regular season, booking a playoff spot.
With 4 games to go, the Barbarians sit 7th on the log, and the very next game against Impis is a must-win if they do not want to drop to the relegation playoff bracket.
The Barbarians have mastered the art of picking up losing bonus points, securing 4 from the 7 games they’ve played so far. Come this Saturday, a losing bonus point won’t be enough. The Barbarians have to win, and with a bonus point, as their remaining regular season games shall be against the traditional top three sides, KOBs, Heathens and Pirates in that order.
On the other hand, the Impis are equally intent on staying in the Top 8, a reasonable target for a recently promoted side. They travel to Jinja, a city where they’ve already collected a win this season against the Hippos, which is a positive sign for a young side that has registered two of its three losses on the road against the Mongers and Pirates.
Both teams are on 18 points, and went into the break after coming off wins against two troubled sides in the Rhinos and Kakira Simbas.
This game will likely change the tides for both sides as the Barbarians follow up with herculean tasks, while the Impis remain with winnable games after Saturday’s encounter.
The post Walukuba host Impis in mid-table rumble as Ruby Premiership returns appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Uganda Premier League | Result
- SC Villa 1-1 Vipers SC
SC Villa held Vipers in a one-all draw in the Uganda Premier League encounter at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba on Wednesday evening.
SC Villa came into the game on the back of a sweet 1-0 victory against KCCA in the Kampala Derby.
It was a closely contested game right from the opening minute to the final moment of the game.
Milton Karisa found the game’s first cut clear chance in the 18th minute but his effort was palmed away by the goalkeeper David Lukwago.
Hillary Mukundane broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with a thunderous header off Odili Chukwuma’s well-taken corner kick.
Four minutes later, Frank Ssebuufu levelled matters with a well guided header to complete a brilliant team play that was started by Hassan Mubiru.
Quick-footed Mubiru danced past his markers before he set Najib Yiga. Yiga’s delivery was deflected off Mukundane’s block before Ssebuufu scored.
Reagan Mpande came close to extending SC Villa’s lead in the 74th minute but his travelling effort went inches wide of the goal frame.
Milton Karisa had a chance to give Vipers maximum points late in the game but the Villa custodian Lukwago made a million-dollar save.
Despite sharing spoils on the day, Vipers remain on top of the table with 52 points while SC Villa lies fourth with 45 points after 23 games.
The post UPL: SC Villa hold Vipers at Kadiba appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
The post AS IT HAPPENED: SC Villa 1-1 Vipers – UPL 2025/26 appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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