Rebosura double seals women's title, UAAP Football treble for FEU

The FEU Lady Tamaraw Booters secured their 11th UAAP women's football title, their first since 2015, with a close 2-1 victory over the defending champions DLSU Lady Booters, with goals from Regine Rebosura in the 46th and 118th minutes against Shai Del Campo's 90+10th minute equalizer this Sunday in the Finals of the UAAP Season 85 Women's Football tournament.

PHOTO CREDITS: UAAP

Both teams started off quickly, looking to exploit switches of play. DLSU's Shai Del Campo struck just wide after slipping past an off-guard Tamaraws defense after 7 minutes, while it was Regine Rebosura in the 10th minute who forced a save from DLSU keeper Alexandrea Gumilao.

Rebosura again almost had a chance to score in the 13th minute after a well-weighted cross from FEU skipper Dionesa Tolentin, but was stopped inside the box.

In the 27th minute, the girls in green could have gone in front with Maria Layacan hitting a shot on target, but was just blocked by the FEU defenders. Layacan again found space in the 34th minute after beating the Tamaraw Booters' high line to Arantxa Trebol's long pass, her shot going just wide of the right post.

Still, the match remained scoreless heading into the interval, but the team from Morayta scored barely a minute into the second half. Rebosura struck from close range after a deflected FEU corner found her wide open.

League top scorer Angelica Teves looked to equalize in the 60th minute for the Lady Booters from a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, but her shot went straight into the gloves of Jessa May Lehayan.

The Lady Tamaraw Booters looked to double the lead in the 71st minute, with substitute Lylhanie Cayabyab pouncing off of a Gumilao deflection, her shot going wide of the near post.

Shai Del Campo was closing down on FEU's goal in the 79th minute looking for the equalizer, but was called for a handball on the buildup. Moments later, Mikaela Villacin put the ball in the back of the net off a Del Campo pass beyond FEU's reach, but was marginally offside.

Yet just when many would have thought the match was won, in virtually the last tick in regulation, Shai Del Campo headed home from point-blank range to keep the Lady Booters alive and force extra time.

But when it looked like the match was headed for the dreaded penalty shootout, Rebosura made it two on the night with a tap-in off of Gumilao's initial save.

Matchwinner Regine Rebosura was awarded the tournament's Best Midfielder and Rookie of the Year, while fellow Lady Tamaraw Booter Katrina Magbitang was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

La Salle's Angelica Teves earned Best Striker honors with 8 goals to her name. UP's Coline Acelo and Jennifer Baroin were given the Best Goalkeeper and Best Defender awards, respectively. Ateneo was given the Fair Play Award for accumulating the fewest cards this season.

The women's title sees the Far Eastern University complete the third-ever Treble (men's, women's, and juniors) in UAAP Football history, the first two also by FEU in Seasons 76 and 77.