Defending champions FEU Tam Booters survived a tense semifinal battle with the UST Golden Booters, 3-2, to secure a return trip to the finals of the UAAP Season 88 men’s football tournament.
FEU Comes Out Firing
FEU wasted little time imposing its attack on Friday the 13th at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Karl Absalon orchestrated the early surge, threading a pass that allowed Selwyn Mamon to open the scoring in the fifth minute before heading in a cross nine minutes later to give the Tamaraws a 2-0 cushion.
UST answered just before halftime when Kyler Escobar’s deep ball from the right flank sailed over goalkeeper Mon Diansuy and into the net, cutting the deficit to one and keeping the Golden Booters within striking distance.
The second half unfolded with rising urgency from UST, highlighted by Rodrigo Mariñas’ missed point-blank opportunity that could have drawn the match level.
That squandered chance proved pivotal, as substitute McJay Neniel delivered in the 89th minute, calmly rounding the keeper and finishing to restore FEU’s two-goal edge.
Escobar struck again deep into stoppage time to trim the margin, but the final whistle arrived moments later to seal the Tamaraws’ victory.
The Bid to Win Back-to-Back Titles Is Still Alive
The win sends FEU to a fourth straight championship appearance, where it will face the UP Fighting Maroons in a winner-take-all final on February 23 at the same venue.
A successful title defense, however, could prove challenging for FEU, as uncertainty now surrounds Mamon’s availability for the final. The talented Tam Booter has accumulated yellow cards, which could put his participation in the final in jeopardy.
For UST, the narrow defeat resulted in a bronze finish and an emotional farewell for several departing standouts.
