Far Eastern University wasted little time reminding everyone why it has been the dominant force in collegiate women’s football, opening its bid for a fifth consecutive UAAP championship with a commanding 5-0 victory over debuting National University on Wednesday evening at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

The result also marked a historic moment for the Lady Bulldogs, who played their first-ever UAAP women’s football game as the league welcomed NU to the competition.

FEU had to wait until the second half to pull away, scoring four goals after a tightly contested opening period in which NU showed plenty of fight in its UAAP debut.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Marienell Cristobal, a FEU homegrown in her last playing year, provided the spark from set pieces, delivering pinpoint corner kicks that Althea Rebosura and Kristine Dela Peña headed home in the 25th and 51st minutes, respectively.

Substitute midfielder Angelie Tolosa then added to NU’s woes in the 66th minute, calmly finishing inside the box to give the Lady Tamaraws a 3-0 advantage.

Julie Sacmar followed with a right-footed strike in the 81st minute before defender Kyaneza Abellar capped FEU’s dominant display with an 89th-minute goal.

For FEU coach Let Dimzon, the emphatic victory was an encouraging way to begin the season, particularly after she was able to give valuable minutes to her reserves.

“We wanted to keep the quality and the standard of the game,” said Dimzon. “We’re happy with the result because of our second stringers. It means that they wanted to be in that spot; it’s a good wake-up call for the starting 11.”

The Lady Tamaraws controlled much of the proceedings, particularly in the attacking third, leaving goalkeeper Blaine Marie Barredo with little to do for much of the afternoon.

NU goalkeeper Quenie Aira Magarso, meanwhile, was kept busy throughout the match and made several important saves to keep the scoreline from ballooning further as the Lady Bulldogs endured their first taste of UAAP competition.

The victory extended FEU’s winning streak to 14 matches and its unbeaten run to 33 games dating back to Season 85.

Still, Dimzon stressed the importance of giving her younger and less experienced players opportunities early in the campaign rather than relying solely on the team’s established starters.

“Sa mga second stringers, especially new players, they need to get more exposure to the game,” said Dimzon. “Some of them, this is their first match kase di lahat naglalaro ng 11-a-side, so now nakikita natin kung ano nako-contribute nila and nabibigay (yung best) nila into the game.”

FEU will try to make it two wins in a row when it faces the University of the Philippines at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the same venue.

NU, meanwhile, will look to regroup from its historic debut when it takes on the University of Santo Tomas in the 2 p.m. opener on the same day.

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Renowned football coach Kim Chul-soo, who served as one of Philippine football’s most revered and successful coaches, passed away in his native South Korea yesterday at the age of 74.

Popularly known as Master Kim, the former Pohang Steelers defender made his mark on Philippine football primarily as one of the architects of Far Eastern University’s success across the UAAP men’s, women’s, and high school boys’ football divisions.

He also coached the likes of the Loyola Meralco Sparks and Manila Jeepney when both teams competed in the now-defunct United Football League.

Often seen in distinctive corporate attire while coaching his teams, Kim’s programs and methods helped develop several local players who went on to become stars in the collegiate and professional leagues.

One such player is Aguilas Umak standout Arnel Amita, a Philippines Football League and Copa Paulino Alcantara champion. Amita was part of the FEU Tamaraws squads that won back-to-back UAAP titles in Seasons 76 and 77.

“I still find it hard to believe that you’re gone. You were more than just a football coach to me, you were a mentor, a teacher, and someone who helped shape the person and footballer I am today,” said Amita, who began learning from Kim in 2008, in a social media post.

“Thank you for every lesson, every piece of advice, every encouragement, and even every tough moment that taught me to become stronger. Your impact went far beyond the football field. The things you taught me will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Even before moving to the Philippines, Kim had already made a name for himself in grassroots football development. He had reportedly coached former Premier League stars Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo early in their careers.

But Kim’s influence extended beyond developing his players’ technical abilities. He also placed a strong emphasis on character development, believing that there was more to life than what happened on the football pitch.

For Paolo Bugas, the lessons he learned from Kim resonate even more strongly today, as he now serves as an assistant coach for FEU’s men’s and high school boys’ teams.

“You changed our lives from the very beginning when we met you. We will always remember the good and bad moments we shared, the laughter, the memories, and even the times you scolded us during training. At that time, even though it was painful to hear, but now we understand that everything you did was to make us better and to help us understand the football you wanted us to play,” said Bugas in a personal social media post written in English and Bisaya.

“Thank you very much for everything, Master Kim. We will always carry your lessons with us, both on and off the field.”

As Kim is laid to rest, his legacy continues to live on in Philippine football, particularly among the players and coaches who had the privilege of learning from a mentor who left an indelible mark on the sport.

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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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