Charles Lobitaña equalized the score in the dying seconds of regulation time and Ramil Bation III struck in the extra period to wrest for the University of the Philippines (UP) the UAAP men’s football title from defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU).
Despite being down a goal against the FEU Tamaraws with seconds left on the clock, the UP Fighting Maroons did not waver in their ability to secure the championship crown, 2-1, in the thrilling University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) finals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Monday, Feb. 23.
With the victory, UP reclaimed its second title in three years and 20th championship overall in the men’s division. It had its last crown in the UAAP Season 86, also beating FEU.
Team captain Lobitaña came off a foul toward fellow Maroon Florenz Tacardon inside the box and iced a penalty kick in the last seconds of regulation to tie the match, 1-1. Striker Bation sealed the win by scoring past FEU goalkeeper Mon Diansuy at the 104th minute in extra time.
Although UP’s championship hopes were dwindling as they faced a deficit with time running out, Lobitaña and Bation had no doubt that they would stage a comeback.
‘It’s ours’
“During the last minutes, I knew we could score because we kept on attacking. Our heart was there and we did not give up. That’s why we know that the championship is for us,” Bation said in Filipino in a postgame interview with the UP publication Tinig ng Plaridel.
The third-year striker, who also fashioned the game-winning strike in UP’s semifinal match against De La Salle University, was unaware that he had given them the lead and was focused simply on scoring after missing multiple opportunities early in the game.
“I didn’t know then,” Bation said. “Ken [Saludez] had the ball and I just really cut and kicked…When it was a goal, I told myself, ‘It’s ours, nothing else. [The championship] is really ours.”
Lobitaña, who was named UAAP Season 88 Best Defender and Finals MVP along with Tacardon, said he was focused on securing the goal because he was certain that their team would take over the game in extended play.
Asked how confident he was in scoring the game-tying goal, Lobitaña did not hesitate: “100%. Of course, ako ‘to eh (This is me).”
Hard work
For UP head coach Popoy Clarino, the Maroons’ late-game composure and title run were a testament to the players’ hard work and preparation throughout the past year.
“They worked together for the whole year,” he said. “They made sacrifices. It was a hard year, but because of the sacrifice and the love that they gave each other, they deserved to win this. They deserved to have this.”
Midfielder Karl Absalon scored FEU’s lone goal—a header in the first half—which gave his team the lead throughout most of the game. CS
