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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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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Clarence Villaflor and Lanz Zafra ensured that the inaugural UAAP men’s singles badminton title would remain with National University after dispatching their respective opponents in the Season 89 individual events semifinals on Monday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Villaflor, the country’s top-ranked shuttler, overcame a challenging opening game to defeat Ateneo de Manila University’s Lance Vargas, 21–18, 21–12, in 40 minutes. Zafra, the Bulldogs’ team captain, likewise weathered the challenge of University of the Philippines’ Shan Clar, winning 21–17, 21–14, in 35 minutes.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

The two NU standouts will face each other for a place in history in the gold medal match scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

The all-NU final also virtually secured the Bulldogs the inaugural UAAP badminton championship under the three-event format, having already claimed the gold medal in the team competition.

NU is assured of a maximum total of 20.875 points, with 15 coming from its team gold and 10.875 from its standing in the combined singles and doubles competitions.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Ben Dictado and John Benedict Gam, meanwhile, kept the Bulldogs in contention for a sweep after rallying past Fighting Maroons Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza, 12–21, 21–19, 21–13, in the men’s doubles semifinals.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

The NU pair will face Ateneo’s Lyrden Laborte and Robby Ramos, who defeated De La Salle University’s Karl Contreras and Gift Linaban, 21–17, 21–17, in the other semifinal. The gold medal match is set for 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday.

On the women’s side, UP secured its place as the top-ranked university in the individual events after booking a spot in both the singles and doubles finals.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Brys Fuggan dominated Adamson University’s Roshella Quierez, 21–12, 21–13, to move within a win of the inaugural UAAP women’s singles gold medal.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Meanwhile, seniors Kimberly Lao and Susmita Ramos needed an hour and 15 minutes to outlast Ateneo’s Althea Hernandez and Angel Valle, 18–21, 21–13, 21–15, in the women’s doubles semifinals.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Fuggan will face Sab Amora, who is set to make her final UAAP appearance, in the gold medal match at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The graduating NU senior and team captain advanced to the final after defeating UP’s Anthea Gonzalez, 21–18, 21–16, in 43 minutes.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Lao and Ramos, meanwhile, will take on Adamson rookies Mary Untal and Jasmine Reformina for the women’s doubles title at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Untal and Reformina earned their place in the final by rallying past Ateneo’s other pair, Daena Castro and Andrea Hernandez, 18–21, 21–9, 21–17.

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