By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw Booters head coach Let Dimzon commended the team's reserve players for stepping up in their final eliminations match against the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles, 4-1, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women's football tourney earlier today, November 8, at the University of the Philippines Diliman Football Pitch in Quezon City.

“Actually, I’m very satisfied with their performance kasi when we start[ed] with four players na galing sa bench (because when we started with four players from the bench)… Three of them are second stringers, pero (but) they were able to convert ‘yung lahat ng mga attacking chances from then sa score (all attacking chances from then to score),” the lead tactician said in an interview with FEU Advocate.

Three of the team’s four goals came from Jelani Pabuaya, Althea Rebosura, and Leofrance Gayapa, who are all part of the team's reserve players.

Lady Tamaraw striker Pabuaya kickstarted the team's offense by scoring an early goal in the third minute of the match, 1-0.

Despite the early goal, FEU received an immediate response from Ateneo team captain KC Zalamea’s free kick that went straight to blue-and-white skipper Jade Bicierro at the nine-minute mark, 1-1.

The green-and-gold team continued their offensive runs with Angel Egay’s multiple close calls before forward player Judie Arevalo scored a header at the 30th minute, 2-1.

Towards the end of the first half, the match continued to see action until the 42nd minute with a pass from Morayta-based attacker Pabuaya to Rebosura for another strike, 3-1.

In the second half, both teams attempted to make additional goals with Lady Tamaraw Egay getting another close score in the 60th minute, but was continuously guarded by Blue Eagle goalie Chelssy Casals. 

Seventy-three minutes in, only FEU striker Gayapa was able to make a successful goal, enough to conclude a win at 4-1.

Meanwhile, the head tactician also shared how the players were motivated by the opportunity to get their playing time during the last elimination game of the season. 

“I think ‘yung motivation nila ngayon [ay] dahil sinabi ko nga na ‘yung mga second stringer will be given a chance to play for this game, so I think ayun nag-boost sa kanila din to prove themselves also going into the finals na mabigyan sila ng chance to play (I think their motivation right now is because I told them that the second stringers will be given a chance to play for the game, so I think that is what boosted them to also prove themselves going into the finals to give them a chance to play),” she said.

With only a finals match left to conquer for the top-seeded team, coach Dimzon continues to be grounded ahead of the finals match against longtime rivals De La Salle University.

“Hindi kami magpapakumpiyansa dahil natalo namin ‘yung La Salle for two times. Ang kailangan lang talaga namin is to strengthen ‘yung mind namin, and then focus with the objectives na makuha namin ‘yung four-peat (We will not be complacent because we beat La Salle two times. What we need is to strengthen our minds and focus on the objectives of getting the four-peat),” she stated.

The green-and-gold Lady Booters swept the season with a clean 8-0-0 win-draw-loss sheet ahead of their championship game, with the schedule and venue yet to be announced.

(Photo by Aleena Louise Abad/FEU Advocate)