As the University of Santo Tomas formally closed its hosting of UAAP Season 88 on Friday evening, Far Eastern University immediately turned its attention toward preparations for UAAP Season 89.

During the closing ceremony, UST Season 88 chairman Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D. officially handed the UAAP flag to incoming season host and Season 89 chairman Juan Miguel R. Montinola of FEU. Shortly after the turnover, FEU unveiled a teaser video offering a glimpse of what to expect next season.

(C) UAAP Season 88

The video concluded with appearances from renowned personalities Aristotle “Gloc-9” Pollisco and Jose Marie “Vice Ganda” Viceral, signaling the university’s intention to deliver a season centered on culture, entertainment, and community.

“Well, as our president said, what UST did this year was amazing, spectacular. In terms of the opening and closing, it’s something we’ve never seen before. So we’ll try to live up to that,” said incoming UAAP president Mark Molina.

“We’ll hopefully, in our own way, do something that the UAAP and FEU community will be very proud of. Preparations are already underway. We’re opening on September 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena, and we’re already preparing for that.”

(C) FEU

FEU also revealed the theme for Season 89: “For Everyone, UAAP.”

According to Molina, the theme aims to highlight that the league goes far beyond the athletes and the competition itself, recognizing the larger community that helps shape the UAAP experience.

“Our theme is ‘For Everyone, UAAP.’ When you look at past seasons, everything is centered on the athletes, the sport, the performances, and the competition. But the UAAP is beyond that,” Molina explained.

“The UAAP is not just about the athletes. Most of you are not athletes who played in the UAAP, but you’re so invested in the league. There are also so many people in the community — teachers, drivers who bring the teams to the games, ball boys, students, classmates, and fans. We want to highlight their contribution to the UAAP as well.”

(C) UAAP Season 88

While the athletes and competitions will remain at the heart of the league, FEU hopes Season 89 will place greater emphasis on the role of the wider UAAP community in shaping the league’s identity and culture.

The university also aims to champion inclusivity and social awareness through the season’s initiatives.

“For Everyone, UAAP is our reminder that the league should be a space where every sector feels seen, valued, and represented,” Molina said.

“We want Season 89 to help promote inclusivity, inspire compassion, and encourage the community to become more socially aware and involved.”

FEU also plans to continue pushing for the growth of women’s sports.

Among the initiatives being discussed is the possible inclusion of two guest schools in the high school girls’ division.

“The UAAP is not just about sports; the UAAP is about inclusivity,” Molina said.

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With Far Eastern University aiming to stay in the thick of a tight Final Four race in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Cla Loresco delivered at the perfect moment with a breakout performance for the Lady Tamaraws.

The 19-year-old middle blocker uncorked a career-best 17 points built on 10 attacks, four aces, and three blocks in FEU’s tight four-set win over fellow postseason contender University of the Philippines, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, on Sunday evening at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Loresco’s heroics not only helped the Lady Tamaraws snap a two-game skid, but also pushed FEU into a three-way tie for third place, joining Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas in a crowded race for the last two Final Four berths with two matches remaining in the elimination round.

For Loresco, however, FEU’s standing in the playoff picture was not her main motivation. Instead, she focused on bouncing back from subpar performances earlier in Season 88 for the Tina Salak-mentored squad.

“Siguro nung mga past games namin, alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi pa ‘yon ’yung todo ko na laro. Parang nanonood ako ng games ko dati at kung paano ako tumiming sa palo, kung paano ako mag-service, at kung paano ako mag-block,” the homegrown product from FEU-Diliman shared postgame.

“Ngayon, kailangan lang talaga humingi ng tulong kay Lord kasi palagi naman siyang nandiyan. Kailangan ko rin bigyan ng action para mag-meet kami halfway ni Lord.”

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Head coach Tina Salak, for her part, was pleased with the timing of Loresco’s career-best outing, noting that in just her second year, the San Jose del Monte, Bulacan native has shown growing maturity and composure as FEU continues its bid to end a 14-season title drought.

“Yung sa amin naman ni Cla kasi, never too late, lagi ko ’yan sinasabi. If bad game today or bad day ngayon, there’s another day para ma-improve namin yung game niya. But still, nagkaroon ng composure si Cla. Nagkaroon siya ng identity na this time, hindi na ito puwede; sinusubukan siya every time. Nagkaroon din siya ng identity na kailangan siya ng team this time,” Salak said.

“Nagkaroon siya ng maturity sa lahat ng ginagawa niya, even inside and outside the court. But still, kung ano yung nakita natin kay Cla today, ito pa lang yung start. Para sa amin o para sa akin, i-advise ko lang na hindi lang isang beses puwede mong magawa yung 17 points. It’s a matter kung paano tayo magtiwala sa sarili natin na kaya natin kung paano tayo mag-deliver para sa team,” she added.

Looking ahead to FEU’s final two elimination round matches that could decide their Final Four fate, Loresco vowed not to rest on her laurels and to continue improving both her on-court performance and off-court leadership.

FEU will next face Adamson University in a crucial matchup with major Final Four implications on Saturday, April 18, at the same UST venue, before wrapping up its elimination round campaign against Ateneo de Manila University on April 22 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

“Yung thoughts ko lang, dapat hindi pa ako ma-satisfy sa gano’n na galaw kasi alam ko na meron pa akong kayang gawin at kaya ko pang angatan ‘yon. Sa game namin today, sobrang proud and happy ako sa ginalaw namin. Thank you, sa teammates ko at kay Lord,” the 6-foot-1 middle blocker said.

“Sobrang laking bagay sa akin ng araw na ito kasi na-boost masyado yung confidence ko to play pa. I know kailangan din ako ng team. Thank you kay ate Tin (Ubaldo) at kay ate Aly (Devosora) kasi maganda rin pinakita nila. Next games naman namin, mabigat, kaya kailangan naming gawin yung best namin at magkaroon din kami ng composure sa isa’t isa at sa sarili namin at ng pasensya.”

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Far Eastern University-Diliman may have taken the hard road, but the powerhouse program eventually found its way back to the championship round of the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament.

By edging PAREF Southridge, 1-0, in their do-or-die Final Four clash on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, the Baby Tamaraws moved within one win of completing a season-long redemption arc and claiming their 13th divisional title.

The April 10 finale will feature the two programs that have set the standard all season: FEU-D and the defending champion UST Junior Golden Booters.

FEU-D successfully navigated a high-pressure rematch against Southridge, bouncing back from a 4-2 penalty shootout loss last Saturday after the two sides ended regulation tied at 1-1.

Meanwhile, UST booked its spot in the finals with a 2-1 victory over De La Salle Zobel in the other semifinal.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

It will mark the third consecutive finals meeting between FEU-D and UST. The Baby Tamaraws dominated with a 3-0 shutout in Season 86, while the Junior Golden Booters exacted revenge with a 2-1 victory in Season 87.

“I think yung motivation sometimes… sa penalty shootout, sometimes 50–50 talaga,” said coach Jake Morallo. “We cannot make sure na kami ang mananalo sa penalty shootout, but then we practice it. Kaso ‘di lang talaga binigay sa amin — that’s normal. Yung motivation lang namin is we are not the champion team right now; ang goal lang namin is maibalik ‘yun.

“So, we have trust [in] our team, trust namin ang isa’t isa, and we play our game,” he added.

Baby Tamaraws midfielder Jomary Masangkay provided the decisive blow in the 25th minute, pouncing on a rebound to slot the ball home from point-blank range.

The opportunity arose after Admirals goalkeeper Reign Deomampo made a stellar initial save against Jacob Keleghan, only for Masangkay to react first and capitalize on the spill.

With the deadlock broken, FEU-D sought to compound Southridge’s woes, but Deomampo remained a constant thorn in the Baby Tamaraws’ side.

The graduating senior produced a heroic double-save in a single sequence, denying both Jumong Amita and Justin Madeja to keep the Admirals within striking distance heading into halftime.

The second half followed a similar script, with FEU-D emerging as the aggressor. Madeja, Sambher Abrenica, Keleghan, and Leowell Fabela all had chances to double the lead, but none found the back of the net.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

As the clock wound down, Southridge winger Francis Poticano had one final chance to play savior.

However, his desperate attempt drifted off-target, allowing FEU-D to survive the late pressure and secure the final ticket to the championship match.

“They played well today. Siguro yung finishing lang sa last part — hindi dapat magiging 1–0 ‘yun. Nagkaroon kami ng adjustment sa attacking side; high press. May mga chances kami, of course, na naging pressure sa kanila. So, I think it was better today than the last game,” said Morallo.

With FEU-D and UST contesting the championship, La Salle secured the bronze medal, just as it has done for the previous two seasons.

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