FEU, La Salle win UAAP football crowns

University of Santo Tomas was hoping to win another double championship for the second straight day, this time in football.

But out came Far Eastern University and La Salle to spoil the fun as they win the 72nd UAAP men's and women's football titles, respectively, at the expense of the Tigers during their winner-take-all matches at the Ateneo Erenchun Field in Quezon City.

The Tamaraws, who lost three key players including top striker Jason Cordova to suspensions, leaned on a surprising goal late for a stunning 1-0 victory while the Lady Archers ended a string of disappointment to dethrone the Tigresses by the same score.

Both teams won their eighth title overall in their respective divisions while denying the Espana-based campus' bid to make this weekend an all-Tiger celebration after winning the men's and women's volleyball championships yesterday.

Rookie Dexter Jae Chio, a Cotabato native, became the unsung hero for FEU in this bruising affair when he scored a surprising strike in the 75th minute from about 20 yards.

That score came after Filsan Akut's shot was stopped by UST's John Vincent Villanueva enabling Chio to recover the ball and kick it past Tigers' goalkeeper Johnson Lee and into the center of the net.

"That was a surprise goal, nakapaganda," said winning coach Rodolfo Alicante. "Masyado siyang outside nun so it made difficult for the goalkeeper to stop."

FEU then came away with key stops in the dying minutes that saw them get a lucky break when Mario Clarino missed a header that sailed way past the goalpost minutes after Chio's shot to eventually their second title in three years.

"It was a great championship for us, in spite of the absence of our key players so we're very happy to win it," said Alicante.

The Morayta-based booters were considered as heavy underdogs in this match after Cordova, the tournament's Best Striker, was suspended for this game after committing two yellow cards during Thursday's 1-0 win that forced a rubber match. Ironically, the former national team scored the game's solitary goal in the 22nd minute.

Two other FEU players were bannered during the contest after Joshua Almenar at Romnick Jover each suffered their second yellow card of the season, which meant a one-game suspension according to league rules.

But the Tamaraws got a lucky break as well as the Tigers likewise played shorthanded after Rookie of the Year Christian de Juan was also suspended for this contest for committing the same infractions made by Almenar and Jover.

"We were able to make some big adjustments, especially on offense. Si Jason (Cordova) malaking striker yun so ang ginawa namin nag-assign kami ng maliit na striker," Alicante said.

Senior Jake Hugo, one of eight players who played their last game with FEU, was adjudged as the league's Most Valuable Player.

Meanwhile, a freshman also played hero's role in La Salle's women's title conquest as striker Adrianne Yniguez came through in the 56th minute off a pass from Isabella Kilayko.

Yniguez got near the penalty box then scored past UST keeper Arlene Gavile for the game-clinching score.

The Taft-based squad made one final stop seconds before the final whistle as Nikki Regalado tried to force an extra time, only to fumble the ball inside the penalty area.

This time, coach Hans Smit was lucky for the third time after the Lady Archers suffered consecutive heartbreaks in the championship series.

Back from a one-year suspension, La Salle made it back to the finals in 2008 only to lose to FEU, then wasted a twice-to-beat advantage in the championship round that allowed UST to claim its first-ever women's football title.

"This is the sweetest championship I ever have because we have four rookies and a lot of injuries.  In this game, it was Andrea Frumenti that spelled the difference," said Smit.

Smit cited Frumenti's defense on UST's top striker Marianne Narciso, who scored twice in UST's 2-0 lead that forced a rubber match. Frumenti was later named as the league's Best Defender.

Like FEU, La Salle was considered to defeat the back-to-back title seeking Tigresses after losing ace goalkeeper Hannah Ibarra to an ACL injury with one-game left in the elimination round.

DLSU's Samantha Nierras bagged two awards winning the Best Midfielder award and, most importantly, the MVP plum.

Other individual winners in the men's division are FEU's Francis Gustillo (Best Midfielder), UST's David Basa (Best Defender), FEU's Ronnie Aguisanda.

Narciso and Gavile were handed the Best Striker and Best Goalkeeper awards, respectively, in the distaff side.

Tournament host Ateneo, on the other hand, captured its second straight juniors division crown after FEU-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation conceded the championship in reaction to a controversial decision to make their title series a best-of-three affair.

The Blue Eaglets, who was given a twice-to-beat advantage, thought they have won the championship last Thursday after beating the Baby Tamaraws, 4-3, in a shootout. But to their surprise, they were quickly informed that there will still be a Game 2 that was supposed to be held earlier at the Ocampo Field.

Ateneo bagged the title on the first year the league considered the juniors division tournament a regular sport.