WITH TWO key players in limbo, the UST Lady Booters licked their bridesmaid scars anew as they dropped a 1-4 contest to UAAP champion Far Eastern University (FEU) in the 1st Philippine Football Federation–Ang Liga Filipina Football finals last March 31 at the Philsports football arena.
Despite the absence of ace striker Mary Ignacio and Season 69 Rookie of the Year Louella Amamuyo, the Lady Booters took a 1-0 lead in the third minute, courtesy of Aprilyn Reyes’ eight-yard, left-wing hit which flew past the outstretched arms of FEU goalkeeper and RP team standout Nadia Galang.
“Some of my players had a hard time adjusting to the new gameplan which tried to make up for the absence of some of our key players who were out,” coach Jade Bejemino said, referring to Ignacio and Amamuyo.
Amamuyo is currently recovering from a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury, a kind of ligament tear inside the knee, which she got during practice.
Exploiting the void left by tournament Best Defender Amamuyo in UST’s defensive rotation, FEU stalwart and MVP Marnelli Dimzon unleashed a 15-foot grounder in the 32nd minute to knot the count at one apiece.
Dimzon struck anew in the 45th to push FEU upfront, 1-2, going into the halftime break.
UST opened the second half with renewed intensity, challenging the Lady Tamaraws for every possession. But the Lady Booters’ hasty one-on-three set plays from the long court allowed FEU to establish scoring position once more as Best Midfielder Glaize Artus fired a 10-foot try in the 70th minute for a commanding 3-1 FEU lead. Artus later iced the win for FEU with a header in the 78th minute.
