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UAAP Football Final Four: UP, FEU gun for Finals slots

It's time to separate the men from the boys

And the women from the girls

And the tools from the toys.


  • Everything Will Change” by Gavin De Graw

After months of battle, the UAAP Season 76 Men's Seniors Football competition has been whittled down to just four combatants. On Thursday the top seed FEU Tamaraws collide with fourth-seed De la Salle, while 2nd seed UP squares off against UST.

The Tams and the Maroons enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage, and both matches take place in FEU Diliman's Football field. Should either DLSU or UST get a win on Thursday, the winner-take-all games will take place on February 20.

Thursdays matches will go into extra time if the teams are deadlocked after ninety minutes, and penalties will ensue if the 30-minute extension cannot separate the clubs.

Let's break down both match-ups.

UP-UST

UP Coach Anto Gonzales has gotten his charges to overcome a sluggish start to the season to finish strong. In the second round they defeated FEU, handing the Tams their only non-victory of the campaign. But tellingly, the last time the Growling Tigers and Maroons met, UST held UP to a 1-1 draw, in contrast to their first round meeting, which was a 4-0 win by UP.

The Maroons are bannered by Jinggoy Valmayor, the leading scorer in the UAAP with 11 goals. The San Carlos City U23 Azkal is powerful player with a galaxy of weapons at his disposal. Valmayor has a ferocious right boot, is useful in the air, and can also be very unselfish with his passing.

A key matchup will be UST's veteran U22 national team defender, Ronald Batisla-ong, against Valmayor. Batisla-ong has the height to corral Valmayor. He will need to be on his A-Game to prevent Jinggoy from finding the back of the net.

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Gonzales is a speed merchant, with players like Carlos Monfort and Patxi Santos, who like to counterattack from the wings with their quickness. Daniel Gadia, in the center of the park, is also blessed with pace.

UST mentor Marjo Allado needs his rookies (he has thirteen of them) to step up and pry possession from the Maroons in order to feed his attacking corps of Patrick O'Neill, Kennedy Uzoka, and Steven Anotado. Each of the three brings something different to the table. O'Neill, a Colegio de San Agustin product with a British father, has the brawn, Uzoka, a Fil-Nigerian, has the height, and Anotado, a rookie from Mindanao, has the quickness and a nose for goal-poaching.

Another veteran for Allado is Shirmar Felongco who operates from the wing and will need to come up with a career performance if UST entertains hopes of an upset.

A youthful UST has a bright future, UP, with their league-leading fitness, will be favored to proceed to the final.

DLSU-FEU

The Tams are the UAAP's Barcelona, with an intricate, short-passing style that usually leaves opponents flummoxed. After both rounds, FEU won every single game save for that 3-0 loss to UP in January.

Jhan Jhan Melliza is their attacking talisman. The left-footer from La Paz, Iloilo has struck eight times for Kim Chul Su's team this season. Pulling the strings in the center of the field are Arnel Amita and Paolo Bugas, who are both world-class on the ball.

UP was able to solve FEU with a physical, high-pressing game that knocked the undersized Tams off their rhythm. Archers coach Hans Smit will surely be trying to employ a similar strategy. However Smit will miss midfielder Hector Borromeo who is suspended on yellows, and Nathan Alquiros and Nace Gonzales, two other mids, are recovering from injury but will have to soldier on.

Greggy Yang will need to be strong and quick in defense. Smit has plenty of faith in him, in fact Yang will play for Green Archers United Globe once the UAAP season concludes.

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The game may hinge on the performance of rookies Noel Brago and Stanley Villacin at the center of the defense. FEU forward Eric Giganto will try combine with Melliza to outwit both youngsters. Giganto is in form, having scored against UE last week.

For sure DLSU needs a big day from Gelo Diamante. The striker from Davao needs his shooting boots if FEU are to be denied a finals berth.

Telecast Schedule

2pm: DLSU-FEU LIVE on both ABS-CBN Sports+Action and Balls Channel HD

4pm: UP-UST Delayed telecast on ABS-CBN Sports+Action and Balls Channel HD

There could be live streaming of FEU-DLSU on www.uaapsports.tv but only in the Philippines. No streaming of UP-UST. Best to check the @abscbnsports Twitter.

What about separating the women from the girls? The ladies from FEU and UST are in the women's final, which will be played on February 20. TV coverage of those games will still be subject to the results of the men's matches.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.