The top-seeded Far Eastern University (FEU) men’s football squad settled again in another draw, this time against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 1-1, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s football tournament last March 14 at the FEU Diliman football field.

​Despite riding a two-game winning streak against National University (NU) and University of the Philippines (UP) coming into the game, FEU absorbed another even outcome as this has been the third time this season that the FEU ended the game with a draw; and in all of those games, FEU always had the upper hand until the final minutes.

​This was a game of missed chances for FEU. In the fourth minute mark, Gio Pabualan attempted a goal which was blocked by Adamson’s goalkeeper CJ Viray. FEU’s Anthony Decena’s attempt went above the goal in the 22nd minute.

“We missed our good chances...we were unlucky,” FEU head coach Bo Bae Park said.

​FEU was aggressive on the defensive end in the first half, keeping the ball in their side of the field and trapping the Falcons before they can cross the half court line. But in the second half, AdU played with more aggression and was able to push their offense against the Tams’ pesky defense.

“Hindi rin natin masabi [kung sino mananalo] kasi parehas na team gustong manalo. Tapos pinag-aralan din naman nila ‘yung previous game namin. Nagawan nila ng paraan [para manalo] (We cannot tell who will win because both teams wanted to win. Then they studied our last match. They made a way to win),” FEU team captain John Saldivar stated.

​In the 61st minute, Pabualan gave the Tamaraws a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, a header by Adamson’s Kim Bardaje off of a free kick from Jusuel Pilarca went in to tie the game at 1-apiece. Pabualan found the back of the net once again in the 88th minute, but the game-winner was ruled out as it was called offside.

“Ayun ‘yung parang sobrang weakness talaga namin sa team. ‘Yung mga last minutes na lang, doon po kami na parang nag-co-collapse. Sa training, inaayos namin kahit papaano. Ginagawa namin na nag-fo-focus kami sa physical training (That is our main weakness. Our team collapses in the last minutes of the game. In training, we’re adjusting it somehow. We’re trying to focus more on the physical training),” Saldivar said.

​“Our defenders were not hundred percent conditioned. While they played, our center back, Pete Forrosuelo, injured his shoulder and also his neck. That’s why playing in the second half, they are more tired and out of focus. They cannot focus completely,” coach Park added.

​The green-and-gold booters are still the number one seed in the league, posting a 3-3-0 win-draw-loss record for 12 points, two points ahead of University of Santo Tomas (UST).

The Tamaraws will be back on the field as they face De La Salle University (DLSU) on March 17 at the same venue.

​​​​​​​​​-Joaquin Luis E. Quesada
(See full album: UAAP 81 Men’s Football - FEU vs AdU)