By Aine Peralta

Following a series of heartbreaks, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Booter Kian Niu plans to recalibrate after emerging as Rookie of the Year (ROY) in the recently concluded University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men's football tournament last February 23, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila City.

After falling short of retaining the crown in the Final match against University of the Philippines, the Morayta-based rookie received the award with a heavy heart.

“First of all, masaya, pero heartbreaking pa rin, ‘di lang para sa team, kun'di para sa akin din (I feel delighted, but still painful, not only for the team, but for me too),” the freshman midfielder said in a post-game interview with FEU Advocate.

Haunted by ‘almosts’

Niu was a steady presence on the pitch throughout the season. His consistent performance anchored the green-and-gold squad’s midfield rotation and made him one of the league’s standout first-year players. 

However, the loss rubbed salt into the raw wounds of the young athlete’s continuous near-misses.

The former Baby Tam recalled that he and his fellow rookies previously snapped FEU-Diliman’s 12-year championship reign during their junior year before also settling for runner-up honors in the Palarong Pambansa.

“Kasi kaming first-year students, kami ‘yung nagputol ng twelve-peat. Galing kami sa silver last year sa juniors, and then sa Palarong Pambansa, silver din kami. Kaya napakasakit kasi [dapat] redemption season namin. Sadly, silver pa rin kami (Because we, first-year students, we are the ones who broke the twelve-peat. We came off a silver last year in the juniors, and then in the Palarong Pambansa, we also took silver. That's why it's so painful, because this should have been our redemption season. Sadly, we are still silver),” he said.

Kickstart to the crown

Still, the award offered limited consolation for the ROY after another championship loss.

Niu acknowledged the need to step back and regroup following three straight silver finishes across different tournaments.

“Siguro ngayon, mag-rewind muna. Spend some time with family and friends, kasi napakasakit talaga—straight tatlong silver… So after nu’n, balik grind and train na ulit for the next season. Isyu-sure ko sa inyo na mas magiging gutom pa kami next season (For now, rewind. Spend some time with family and friends, because it really hurts—three straight silver finishes… So after that, we will grind and train for the next season. I assure you that we will be even hungrier next season),” he stated. 

Being named ROY marked a personal milestone for Niu, but also served as a painful reminder of unfinished business—one he vows to avenge in his sophomore season.

(Photo by Shane Claudine Rodulfo/FEU Advocate)