Far Eastern University sealed its date with destiny in spectacular fashion, earning the right to extend its reign as the undisputed queen of UAAP women’s football for a fifth consecutive season.

Jelani Pabuaya and Judie Arevalo linked up twice, while Tiffany Trinidad netted a hat-trick to power FEU past Ateneo, 5-1, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Final Four on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.

FEU advances to its sixth consecutive final, scheduled for next Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the same venue, provided the University of the Philippines fails to force a rubber match against De La Salle University later Friday evening. Beyond extending their championship reign, the Lady Tamaraws will also be gunning for their 15th overall title in the division.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

“One game at a time, so we need to be focused… i-wo-work up ko ‘yong mental aspect ng players,” said head coach Let Dimzon. “Nagiging do’n kami nagkakaroon ng problem at the very start of the game. Kinakabahan, pero they need to overcome ‘yong kaba na ‘yan para makapag-focus din sila.

“Kailangan lang talaga silang bigyan ng more confidence and then ‘yong motivation… ‘yong response nila do’n sa second half, I think it’s a good way kung papaano namin i-wo-work against whoever na makakalaban namin for the final game,” she added.

Pabuaya and Arevalo set the tone for the defending champions with identical plays on either side of halftime. Pabuaya delivered right-footed passes across the face of the goal, allowing Arevalo to finish from close range in the 45+1st and 51st minutes.

Trinidad then took center stage, finding the back of the net from inside the Ateneo box in the 58th and 68th minutes before completing her hat-trick — and sealing the Lady Tamaraws’ victory — with a spectacular long-range strike in the 88th minute.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

“So very chaotic ‘yong first half and then very stressful for me,” said Dimzon. “But the adjustment during the second half—do’n ‘yong early goal na ‘yon, and then the quality passes… dahil since most of them are moving na and then wala nang standing football, so it works. Mental lang talaga ‘yong kailangang i-correct… kung gusto n’yo talagang kuhanin ‘yong game, so you need to work really hard.”

Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles wrapped up their campaign in fourth place after struggling to gain a foothold against the defending champions throughout the match. Jada Bicierro scored a consolation goal in the 90+2nd minute — her fifth of the season — to put Ateneo on the scoreboard before the final whistle.

Ateneo’s elimination guarantees that either UP or La Salle will claim at least the bronze medal this season.

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Josh Garces and Ramil Bation scored two goals apiece as defending champion University of the Philippines powered its way to a 4-2 victory over Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Garces, a third-year striker from Don Bosco Cebu, kick-started the Fighting Maroons’ comeback with the equalizer in the 37th minute before doubling their advantage in the 53rd.

Meanwhile, Bation, the Season 86 Rookie of the Year, found the back of the net twice off free kicks.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

His first, a direct attempt that took a slight deflection, gave the hosts their second goal in the 41st minute, while his second came on a rebound in the 79th to put the game beyond Ateneo’s reach.

UP remained in third place with 14 points, tied with De La Salle University but trailing the Green Booters in goal difference, plus-four to plus-13.

“We conceded six goals last round. We told the team, the goal now for the second round is not to concede goals, but we just conceded two goals,” said head coach Popoy Clarino.

“The good thing about this is that we found the back of the net four times; the team responded well to the pressure. It was a better performance to start the second round, and we hope that we stay consistent for the next five games,” he added.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

The Blue Eagles, who also took the lead in their first-round 1-1 draw against UP, drew first blood this time through a vicious strike from team captain Dov Cariño in the 21st minute.

However, Ateneo failed to protect its advantage as the Fighting Maroons responded with three unanswered goals.

Renz Partosa pulled one back for the Blue Eagles in the 69th minute to cut the deficit to one, but Bation restored UP’s two-goal cushion 10 minutes later.

Cariño threatened again late in the match, but substitute Andres Dumlao came up with a crucial stop to deny his cross.

Ateneo remained in seventh place with four points, slipping to a minus-eight goal difference.

Both teams return to action on Sunday, with UP taking on league leader Adamson University at 2 p.m. before Ateneo battles Far Eastern University at 7 p.m.

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By: Justine Anne Gaerlan

National University-Nazareth School kept its perfect record intact and secured another trip to the Final Four after turning back Far Eastern University-Diliman in four sets, 25-17, 20-25, 27-25, 25-22, in the UAAP Season 89 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.

The Lady Bullpups hurdled their biggest test of the season, clinching their 11th consecutive Final Four appearance and extending their winning streak to 10 games to remain unscathed at the top of the standings.

It was only the second time this season that NUNS had conceded a set.

The defending champions faced a stiff challenge from the Baby Tamaraws, particularly in the fourth set, which remained a back-and-forth affair before NUNS seized control in the decisive stretch. Raine Alonzo sparked a three-point run with an attack, followed by a net-touch violation from FEU-D, before delivering the final blow with another attack to close out the rematch of last year’s Finals.

“’Di pa rin tapos. ‘Di pa rin tapos ‘yung trabaho namin.  Recover lang then balik pa rin kami,” NUNS head coach Karl Dimaculangan said after his team became the first to book its place in the Final Four. “Sa amin, our discipline and consistency na lang siguro sa games ang kailangan ayusin.

“Tingin ko magandang opportunity rin ‘yung nangyari today para makita rin namin kung paano kami magre-respond sa pressure na binigay ng FEU and makita rin namin ‘yung lapses namin para malaman namin ano ‘yung kailangan naming i-improve,” he added.

Xyz Rayco spearheaded the defending champions with 24 points on 18 attacks, five aces, and a block, while Alonzo chipped in 22 points through 16 attacks, five aces, and a block.

Mica Gould tallied 20 excellent sets and three points, while Ghenievib Belen contributed 13 excellent digs on 26 attempts and eight excellent receptions in the hour-and-39-minute encounter.

FEU-D leaned on MJ Udeagbala’s 21-point outing, highlighted by 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, to remain tied for third with a 6-4 record.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas extended its winning streak to two games after once again getting the better of Adamson University, 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19, to maintain second place with an 8-2 record.

The Junior Golden Tigresses built a five-point cushion at 16-11 in the fourth set before Adamson trimmed the deficit to two behind a three-point run capped by a Jennica Misajon ace.

The Lady Baby Falcons remained within striking distance, but UST responded with another three-point burst highlighted by an Andrianna Menchavez attack and an Erin Sotto ace, along with an Adamson error.

Misajon briefly halted UST’s momentum with a hit, but Menchavez answered with back-to-back attacks to send the Junior Golden Tigresses to match point before delivering the match-clinching kill.

Taj Teves and Nicole Pelaez led UST’s scoring with 13 points apiece, each tallying 12 attacks and an ace. Patricia Mendoza added 12 points on eight attacks, two blocks, and two aces, while Menchavez and Sotto chipped in 10 and nine points, respectively.

Andreaj Tan Chun Bing registered 20 excellent sets, while Chasliey Pepito recorded six excellent digs and eight excellent receptions in the hour-and-39-minute encounter.

Ellaine Gonzalvo, Francheska Comaling, and Misajon paced Adamson with 15 points apiece, but their efforts fell short as the Lady Baby Falcons dropped to 6-4 and remained tied for third.

Gonzalvo finished with 13 attacks and two aces while collecting 10 digs. Comaling contributed 12 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while Misajon also recorded 12 attack points and added three aces.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

De La Salle Zobel, meanwhile, returned to the win column with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 sweep of the University of the East to keep its Final Four hopes alive.

UE and DLSZ traded points early before the Junior Lady Spikers pulled ahead, 11-6, behind attacks from Aislinn Alemaña and a series of UE errors. DLSZ continued to widen the gap through consecutive attacks from Alemaña and Kylie Celada, with the latter delivering back-to-back service aces to put her team at match point, 24-15.

UE managed to trim the deficit through a DLSZ error and an attack from Janah Sumagaysay, but Princess Montebon’s service error handed the Junior Lady Spikers the third set, 25-17, and the match.

Celada delivered a 14-point performance, including 10 attacks and four service aces, while adding 10 excellent receptions in the hour-and-11-minute match.

Alemaña contributed 13 points, all from attacks, as the Junior Lady Spikers improved to 5-5 and maintained their hold on fifth place.

Zofia Limpot facilitated DLSZ’s offense with 15 excellent sets, while Andi Cenizal led the defensive effort with 13 excellent digs.

Reesseailyn Roxas topscored for UE with 15 points, all coming from attacks. The loss kept the Junior Lady Warriors winless at 0-10, officially eliminating them from Final Four contention.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Ateneo de Manila University, meanwhile, secured its fourth victory of the season with a 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 sweep of the University of the Philippines Integrated School.

The victory lifted Ateneo to 4-6 and sixth place, while UPIS absorbed its ninth consecutive defeat to fall to 1-9 and remain seventh.

Juliana Peregrino delivered Ateneo’s biggest scoring output with 14 points on 11 attacks and three aces. Naihma Banal followed with 10 points, highlighted by nine attacks and an ace in the hour-long match.

Resty Olaguir steered the Blue Eagles’ offense with 14 excellent sets while adding four points.

Niña Abad paced UPIS in the loss with nine points, all coming from attacks.

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