FAR Eastern University showed poise in the
penalty shootout to waylay La Salle 4-1 and bag its second
straight UAAP women’s football title at the Ateneo field
yesterday.
Tournament MVP Ruchelle Latap, Jayneth
Mercado, Karol Barrientos and Airene Decena shone as the Lady
Tamaraws went 4-of-4 in the gruelling shootout.
The FEU Tamaraws made it a double as they
nosed out Ateneo 1-0 to clinch their first men’s football
title in 28 years.
Glester Sobremisana scored the game’s lone
goal in the 27th minute as the Tamaraws played honest defense
to bounce back from their 0-2 loss to the Blue Booters in the
opener.
"This victory is so sweet dahil almost
three decades kami hindi nag-champion," said FEU coach Rodolfo
Alicante.
Alicante dedicated the championship to his
predecessor, coach Orlando Plagata, who died while the
Tamaraws were competing in the Bacolod University Games in
2005.
"Siya (Plagata) ang naghulma ng team na ito
and I guess he is happy also sa achievement ng team na ito,"
said Alicante, who took the Coach of the Year honors.
FEU’s Francis Gustillo was named the
tournament MVP.
The Lady Tamaraws rebounded from a 2-3 loss
to Lady Archers also in penalties last Sunday.
"Mas kumpiyansa kami than sa unang laban
namin. Pinaghandaan namin nang husto ‘yung penalty kicks.
Sobrang lakas ang mga tira namin sa Game 1, pero this time
sinigurado na ng mga bata na papasok ang mga attempts nila,"
said FEU coach Malou Rubio.
The Lady Tamaraws were ahead 3-1 and gained
a shot for the win after goalkeeper Nadia Galang foiled Lady
Archers midfielder Samantha Nierras’ attempt.
Cool and calculated, Decena scored a left-handed kick over
La Salle rookie goalie Hannah Ibarra to seal the victory for
FEU.
