Gritty fighting maroons dethrone UAAP champs in an epic UAAP final

Photo credits: nowhere to go but UP

It's been six years since the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last won its championship and finally, they reclaimed the podium's top step and thhey did it dramatically as they took out the defending champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

A 50th-minute goal from the penalty spot by the Fighting Maroons' team captain Marc Tobias was enough to finish their season as the new kings of UAAP football to claim its eighth UAAP title and are now tied with the Ateneo de Manila University in terms of the men's championship.

Graduating player and UAAP Season 86 Men's Football tournament MVP and best striker Francis Tacardon paved the way for the Diliman-based booters as he dribbled toward the penalty box before being tackled by Andre Yu inside the box which prompted referee Clifford Daypuyat to point to the spot.

With steady feet, team captain Tobias stepped up to the plate and delivered a cold-blooded spot kick to send the UP faithful in pure jubilation. As the Fighting Maroons took the lead, it became the start of the downfall of the Tamaraws.

With chances coming in from left to right, UP continued its onslaught of attack while preventing waves of long balls from the opposition from reaching its targets.

Apart from winning the match through a spot kick, the Fighting Maroons won it in the most important part of the pitch; the midfield. Sporting a 5-2-3 formation, coach Popoy Clarino's side won most of the 50-50 balls in midfield and prevented the likes of Karl Absalon, Martini Rey, and Viejay Frijiliano from producing any threat for the Tamaraws.

Clarino said, "I think it was our resiliency that brought us towards the end. We wanted to give back to the UP community, our families, and of course to God we wouldn't be here if we weren’t given this talent to showcase to other people."

The Tamaraws did everything they could and threw everything at the Fighting Maroons but it simply wasn't their day. In an effort to extend the match to extra time and possibly, penalties, coach Albert Besa brought in Jermi Darapan who's playing his last year for the Morayta-based Booters.

Minutes into his introduction, Darapan found a pocket of space on the left side of the field which he immediately dribbled into and managed to pull off a strike but Jose Alfonso Gonzales parried his left-footed strike.

Into the dying minutes of the game, Selwyn Mamon got an opportunity to level the match but his efforts hit the crossbar and were cleaned up by the Fighting Maroons.

After the dust had settled, UP emerged victorious, ending their six-year wait for the title to send off their seniors with the gold medal around their necks. "It goes to show the UP fighting spirit. We forgot about the last season and we fight," said Tacardon who recalled the struggles of the team last season when they didn't make it to the final four.

Photo Credits: The UAAP

On the side of the Tamaraws, assistant coach Paolo Bugas said, "Nakita talaga natin na deserve talaga ng UP mag-champion. Alam naman namin na pressure talaga sa amin as champions and sinabi namin sa kanila na at least lumaban tayo."

With the curtains of the UAAP football season finally closed, it will be time for the entire field to rest while their graduating players move on to the next phases of their careers.

Final Score: Far Eastern University 0-1 University of the Philippines

Goal scorers:

Marc Tobias (PK) 50'

Individual Awards:

Most Valuable Player - Francis Tacardon (UP)

Rookie of the Year - Ramil Bation (UP)

Golden Boot Award - Kofi Agyei (ADMU) and Ramil Bation (UP) Best Striker - Francis Tacardon (UP) Best Midfielder - Marc Tobias (UP)

Best Defender - Viejay Frijiliano (FEU)

Best Goalkeeper - Jose Miguel Abada (UST)