By Krizza Gabrielle Tabora

Deprived of a 13-peat last season, the Far Eastern University Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws showcased fortitude and undeterred character to reclaim their throne in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 high school boys’ football tournament last April 10 at the University of the Philippines Diliman Football Pitch in Quezon City.

Since 2012, the gold medal has become a permanent fixture at Diliman, until University of Santo Tomas (UST) ended the Baby Tamaraws’ legendary 12-peat during Season 87.

Looking to deny a repeat of last season’s history, FEU-D defeated the Junior Golden Booters to clinch the championship once again by scoring two goals in the last 15 minutes of the match, 2-1.

However, for the green-and-gold squad, that fall was merely the prelude to a greater climb. As they completed their redemption tour to reclaim the championship, they proved that while a streak can be broken, the mark they have made on the pitch is unbreakable.

For the Baby Tamaraws who aim to come back stronger than before, the question was not when they would rest, but how much they were willing to give to ensure the gold returned to Diliman. 

No breaks

When everyone took a moment of pause during the Holy Week break, the Diliman-based team sacrificed their rest to continue their preparation for their finals game.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Baby Tamaraws head coach Jake Morallo emphasized that the squad only had one objective in mind despite the holidays: bringing the glory back to FEU. 

“Hindi kami nag-stop sa training. Even though Holy Week, we gave the team exercises. They all know na kailangan namin magbigay ng extra, even though na Holy Week 'yun, tuloy-tuloy ang kondisyon. Siyempre, ‘yung objective namin is nandun pa rin, which is bawiin ang korona (We didn’t stop training. Even though it was Holy Week, we gave the team exercises. They all know that we need to give extra effort, despite the holiday, we kept up our conditioning. Of course, our objective remains the same which is to take back the crown),” he stated.

For the green-and-gold squad, the grueling road back to the top was paved with sacrifice and perseverance, transforming every hardship into fuel for their championship goal.

Mentorship beyond the pitch

Beyond the technical skills and never-ending drills, this season’s success was also rooted in team culture that prioritized their philosophy of ‘sama-sama.’

With the Baby Tams bearing the pressure of FEU’s legacy in football, their coaches acted as dual figures — mentors off and on the pitch — reminding them of their humanity and emphasizing that football is only one facet of their true capabilities.

“Every day kami nagiging parang parents ng players namin. Sometimes we talk about not just football but also life din, kasi I don't want them to be like, diinan sa football — sometimes, they also have to be humans as well para ma-balance ‘yung capabilities nila (Every day, we’ve become like parents to our players. Sometimes we talk about more than just football — we talk about life too. I don’t want to push them hard in football, they need to be treated as humans as well to balance out their capabilities),” Morallo shared.

Moreover, he added that this holistic approach served as the key in keeping the team’s composure throughout the season despite their ups and downs, allowing the boys to secure the championship by embracing the journey.

As the memories of last year’s defeat lingered, the team addressed it by sitting down for a raw talk. 

For the green-and-gold team, they acknowledged that the said loss was partially due to a lack of physical and mental readiness, a vulnerability they refused to carry over this season.

“Actually, yesterday after ng training, nagkuwentuhan kami with the players, nag-sit down kami and sinabi namin sa kanila na ‘last year, I think we fell short because of health,’ and we asked them before today na 'are you boys healthy for today? Physically and mentally?' and they answered yes. I think they showed it today, especially in their character in today's game (Actually, yesterday after training, we had a sit-down and talked with the players. We told them, ‘last year, I think we fell short because of health,’ and we asked them before today, ‘are you boys healthy for today? Physically and mentally?’ They answered yes. And I think they showed it today especially in their character in today’s game),” he stated.

Birth of a new era

For Most Valuable Player James Maxdel Torres, the end of the 12-peat was not a complete loss, but just a way to create a new legacy.

“Naputol namin ‘yung 12-peat, and ngayon, siguro masasabi ko simula ngayon, gagawa kami ng bagong legacy. And sa mga graduating players at sa mga matitira, sila ang magpapatuloy sa legacy ng FEU (We snapped the 12-peat, and now, I can say from this point on, we are going to build a new legacy. And for the graduating players and those who will remain, they will be the ones to carry on the legacy of FEU),” Torres expressed.

This championship serves as a reminder that FEU-D’s mark on green-and-gold history is not defined by an uninterrupted victory run. Instead, they chose to rise above and begin creating a new legacy. 
(Photo by Shane Claudine Rodulfo/FEU Advocate)