Camille Naredo

Far Eastern University-Diliman celebrates against Adamson in the UAAP Season 88 boys' football tournament, January 17, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP Media

Far Eastern University-Diliman celebrates against Adamson in the UAAP Season 88 boys' football tournament, January 17, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

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UAAP Season 88

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768719727256UAAP88 HSFB - FEU-D vs ADU - FEU-D -4416.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Far Eastern University-Diliman celebrates against Adamson in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; football tournament, January 17, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Far Eastern University-Diliman celebrates against Adamson in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; football tournament, January 17, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- Far Eastern University-Diliman and De La Salle Zobel scored convincing opening-day wins, while Ateneo de Manila University pulled off a late winner to kick off its campaign in the UAAP Season 88 boys football tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.Led by Jerriemy Biton&#x27;s two-goal performance, the Baby Tamaraws launched their redemption tour with a dominant 5–0 shutout of league newcomers Adamson Baby Falcons. Similarly, rookie Jayden Gayoso fired a hat-trick to power the Junior Green Booters to a 6–1 rout of the Claret Red Roosters.Meanwhile, Andres Hizon celebrated his 18th birthday in memorable fashion by scoring a last-minute winner that lifted Ateneo over Southridge, 1–0.Biton, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year and Best Striker, opened the tournament&#x27;s scoring in the 20th minute before completing his brace in the 64th.In between Biton&#x27;s strikes, the Baby Tamaraws overwhelmed the Falcons&#x27; defense: Leowell Fabela doubled the lead in the 26th minute, followed by a 54th-minute goal from captain Jacob Rey Keleghan.Attacking midfielder Dioneso Diaz finished the rout in the 77th minute, sealing a perfect start for the Diliman-based squad.&quot;I&#x27;m very happy sa performance,&quot; said Baby Tamaraws coach Jake Morallo. &quot;We created chances and opportunities (to score). So far the team has a good chemistry. May mga special players parin tayo and yung winning mentality andun pa rin although kailangan pa rin namin i-adjust yung position ng mga players.&quot;Jayden Gayoso mirrored Biton&#x27;s opening-match heroics, delivering a masterclass in his debut for the Junior Green Booters.Following in the footsteps of his brother Jarvey — a two-time UAAP champion and national team mainstay — the 18-year-old struck in the third minute to open his account. He doubled his tally with a clinical header in the 47th minute before completing his hat-trick with a composed 61st-minute strike, putting the match out of reach.&quot;He&#x27;s always trying to pressure himself,&quot; said new Zobel coach Arvin Soliman, who replaced Ghanaian mentor Ayi Nii Aryee during the off-season. &quot;He needs to just to relax, enjoy the game, and he&#x27;ll reach his goal, and now, it happened.&quot;So, I think his overall performance today is expected to come out against this team and, hopefully, he&#x27;ll develop more. Yeah, I&#x27;m very proud, not just for Gayoso, but I also want to highlight one of my rookies — Massimo Sarmiento,&quot; he added.Renz Partosa scored in the 69th minute, while Sarmiento added a late brace with strikes in the 83rd and 85th minutes to seal a resounding win for the Junior Green Booters.Claret, however, ensured they did not go home empty-handed as Florence Constantino pulled back a consolation goal for the Red Roosters in the 69th minute.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768719743153UAAP88 HSFB - ATENEO vs SRG - ATENEO-5547.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo celebrates against Southridge in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; football tournament, January 17, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Ateneo celebrates against Southridge in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; football tournament, January 17, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP Media</div>The main event of the evening saw the Blue Eagles rely on Hizon and Manuel Simpao to edge past the Admirals in a fiercely contested match.Still stinging from their elimination at the hands of the Admirals last season, the Blue Eagles were intent on redemption, seeking a vital opening-day victory while settling old scores.As both sides pushed for a late winner, Ateneo finally seized the breakthrough in the dying seconds.With the match seemingly headed for a scoreless stalemate, Simpao whipped a corner into the heart of the Southridge box, where Hizon rose highest to thump home a header — sending the Blue Eagles&#x27; supporters into wild celebrations.&quot;Of course, for us, si Andres Hizon talaga yung pinaka-strong sa mga set pieces,&quot; said Ateneo coach JP Merida. &quot;Even last year (at) sa mga pre-season (games) namin, may mga score siya coming from set pieces.&quot;After the corner from the other side, sabi sa kanila better na lang nalipat sa kabilang side. So that&#x27;s one of the luckiest days. But of course, we need to praise Manuel Simpao for his simple delivery. Maganda talaga yung nilaro nila,&quot; he added.Next Saturday, UST will begin its title defense at 2 p.m. against DLSZ as the competition continues at the same venue.

Far Eastern University-Diliman and De La Salle Zobel scored convincing opening-day wins, while Ateneo de Manila University pulled off a late winner to kick off its campaign in the UAAP Season 88 boys football tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Far Eastern University-Diliman and De La Salle Zobel scored convincing opening-day wins, while Ateneo de Manila University pulled off a late winner to kick off its campaign in the UAAP Season 88 boys football tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

UAAP: FEU-Diliman, La Salle-Zobel open football tourney with big wins

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UAAP: FEU-Diliman, La Salle-Zobel open football tourney with big wins

ABS-CBN News

Published January 18, 2026 03:05 PM PHT

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