The stage is set at Rizal Memorial Stadium today (Monday) as top-seeded University of the Philippines and defending champion Far Eastern University clash in a winner-take-all final for the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament crown.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., promising a showdown between two of the league’s top football programs.
This marks the second finals meeting between the Fighting Maroons and the Tamaraws in just three seasons.
UP claimed the Season 86 title with a 1-0 victory, thanks to Macky Tobias’ decisive penalty in the 50th minute.
The Tamaraws enter today’s match with the weight of expectations on their shoulders, while the Fighting Maroons carry the psychological edge of a perfect elimination round sweep over FEU.
UP has already beaten FEU twice this season — a commanding 3-1 win on September 25, 2025, and a hard-fought 1-0 triumph last January 15.
Yet, for UP head coach Popoy Clarino, past victories are no guarantee.
In a single-match final, anything can happen, and complacency is not an option.
“You can’t say that. That’s football. Anyone can beat anyone; you just have to be prepared,” said Clarino, whose side topped the eliminations with 29 points and ousted De La Salle University 1-0 in the Final Four thanks to Ramil Bation III’s free kick last February 8.
Clarino is aiming to guide UP to its 20th men’s title.
He can rely on Bation III, who has seven goals this season, goalkeeper Fonzy Gonzalez, and defenders Jian Caraig and Cian Galsim for the decisive showdown.
“You have to set the standard higher,” Clarino added. “If there’s a bar, you break it and set it higher. You have to be accountable for every action. That will set us apart. We just have to be ready for everything, and we are excited to be back.”
On the other side, FEU head coach Jake Morallo faces a tougher road.
The Tamaraws’ bid for back-to-back titles is clouded by the uncertain availability of Selwyn Mamon, the season’s Golden Boot frontrunner with 11 goals, who received two consecutive yellow cards in the Final Four against the UST Golden Booters.
“This will be a very good game. We will find a way to adjust, kasi wala si Selwyn. We will tweak our system, study UP’s recent games, and prepare,” said Morallo.
The Tamaraws are chasing more than just a 12th men’s title and their first successful defense since Season 77; they are also vying to keep FEU on track for a historic fourth treble.
With the Lady Tamaraws retaining their crown last November and the Baby Tamaraws leading the high school division, the men’s squad must do its part to complete the sweep.
Despite the challenges, Morallo remains confident in FEU’s talent.
After finishing the eliminations in second place with 26 points and surviving a 3–2 Final Four thriller against the Golden Booters on February 13, the Tamaraws still boast key seniors, including midfielder Karl Absalon, forward Theo Libarnes — who has six goals this season — and Season 87 MVP Mon Diansuy guarding the posts.
“We have to be patient because we know UP is a powerhouse. They have more national players, but we have ours too,” concluded Morallo.
