 |
| The UAAP men's football title is back with UP. UAAP Season 88 Media Team |
MANILA--Just when Far Eastern University was about to give University of the Philippines a second straight UAAP men's football final heartbreak, the latter found the light in crunch time.
The Fighting Maroons took the championship back from the Tamaraws as Charles Lobitana delivered at the end of regulation and Ramil Bation once again went clutch for a 2-1 win on Monday night at the jampacked Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Lobitana made up for a crucial error before halftime with his penalty right at the very last play of regulation to eventually set up Bation's extra time winner.
Lobitana, the team captain this year, failed to clear Czam Acueta's cross, and Karl Absalon headed the ball past Fonzy Gonzales for FEU's opening goal.
However, just when everyone was about to concede to a Tamaraw win, referee Mick Jon Pineda called a Francis Sambaan foul inside the penalty area while trying to stop Florenz Tacardon, and Lobitana earned his shot at redemption.
Lobitana powered his penalty past Allan Diansuy to draw level and force another 30 minutes.
In the 14th minute of extra time, however, Bation, the hero in UP's semifinal win against La Salle, played the clutch superstar again, slotting the goal from the left side for the 2-1 count.
The Tamaraws still had one last scare in the second half of the overtime period, but Gonzales delivered the crucial save to preserve the Fighting Maroons' 20th UAAP title.
"We've been in this situation since Season 86. We know what the players can do, so it's all about staying calm and trusting them," said head coach Popoy Clarino, pertaining to UP's last title conquest two seasons back.
FEU dethroned them last season in the Final 4 through an Absalon winner, but this time, the Maroons got their sweet revenge to complete a dream season where they only lost once against 11 wins and two draws.
Lobitana, who was named Best Defender, and Tacardon were named co-MVPs, while Gonzales was named Best Goalkeeper, and the entire Maroon squad was the winner of the Fair Play Award.
Selwyn Mamon was named Best Forward and Best Scorer after scoring 10 goals in the tournament, but he was dearly missed by the Tamaraws in the final as he served his suspension.
Ateneo's Dov Carino was named Best Midfielder.
.jpg)
