Camille Naredo

FEU celebrates a goal against UST in the UAAP Season 88 men's football Final 4, February 13, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. UAAP Media

FEU celebrates a goal against UST in the UAAP Season 88 men's football Final 4, February 13, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

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UAAP Season 88

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770993021194UAAP88 MEN&#x27;S FOOTBALL - UST vs FEU - FEU-9449.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="FEU celebrates a goal against UST in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s football Final 4, February 13, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. UAAP Media" width="960"/>FEU celebrates a goal against UST in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s football Final 4, February 13, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- Far Eastern University punched its ticket to the final of the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s football tournament in thrilling fashion on Saturday.The defending champion Tamaraws outlasted the University of Santo Tomas, 3-2, in a do-or-die Final 4 clash at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium to reach the championship match for the fourth season in a row. It was a bounce-back result for the second-seeded Tamaraws, who absorbed a shock 1-2 loss to the Golden Booters last Sunday and faced the prospect of seeing their reign come to an end in the semifinals.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/2/8/uaap-ust-stuns-feu-stays-in-hunt-for-spot-in-football-finals-2218">READ: UST stuns FEU, stays in hunt for spot in football finals</a></div>Instead, FEU is headed to the winner-take-all championship match against the University of the Philippines.&quot;Very happy,&quot; said coach Jake Morallo. &quot;The mentality of the players, as you can see in the first half they scored two (goals) agad, was very good. After ng first games namin, the following days, we did a game analysis. Dun namin nakita lahat ng pagkakamali at pano naman i-handle tong second game.&quot;&quot;Now we see naayos namin yung mga mali na yun. The tactics were there; everything: puso, yung lumalaban sila kahit sobrang pagod na, they&#x27;re still there fighting para makapasok sa championship game.&quot;The Tamaraws imposed their will early, with Karl Absalon pulling the strings. The Masbate City native carved open the UST defense to set up Selwyn Mamon&#x27;s fifth-minute opener before doubling the lead himself in the 14th minute with a header off a Czam Acuesta cross.Kyler Escobar gave UST a lifeline just before halftime. From the right flank, the UST captain sent a deep cross into the box that caught Tamaraws goalkeeper Mon Diansuy off guard, allowing the ball to sail over him and into the net in the 34th minute.Unfortunately for the Golden Booters, they were also left to rue a massive missed opportunity to level the score in the second half.Rodrigo Mariñas found himself with the goal at his mercy from point-blank range, but he fired wide — a wasted chance that would ultimately haunt the Golden Booters.Neniel delivered the knockout blow in the 89th minute, showing composure to round UST goalkeeper Marg Daig and slot home, restoring FEU&#x27;s two-goal cushion.While Escobar managed to pull one back for UST with a clinical finish in the 90+7 minute, it proved to be mere consolation; the final whistle blew moments later, confirming FEU&#x27;s return to the championship stage.&quot;I knew mananalo kami today,&quot; said Morallo. &quot;Alam ng mga players kung ano kailangan i-improve. Alam namin it&#x27;s in our hands itong game na ito. It wasn&#x27;t an easy game. We know na UST has a strong team also, especially in transitions and in the second half. Happy kami na na-manage and good substitution din kay Neniel. Happy kami.&quot;The only downside for the Tamaraws, however, is that Mamon&#x27;s availability for the final is now in question.Mamon, who is now the leader of the Golden Booters race with 11 goals, picked up yellow cards today and last Sunday, putting his participation in the February 23 showdown in doubt.UP won both of its elimination round encounters against FEU -- a 3-1 win on September 25 and a 1-0 result on January 15. The Fighting Maroons advance to the finals by beating De La Salle University in extra time in their own Final 4 showdown.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/2/8/uaap-bation-strikes-at-the-death-to-lift-up-to-men-s-football-finals-2312">READ: Bation strikes at the death to lift UP to men&#x27;s football finals</a></div>As for UST, the Golden Booters have earned the bronze medal for Season 88 and will bid farewell to the likes of Escobar, Archie Belluga, and Chris Valderama due to graduation.

Far Eastern University punched its ticket to the final of the #UAAPSeason88 men's football tournament in thrilling fashion on Saturday.

Far Eastern University punched its ticket to the final of the #UAAPSeason88 men's football tournament in thrilling fashion on Saturday.

UAAP: FEU men outlast UST in 5-goal thriller, advance to finals

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UAAP: FEU men outlast UST in 5-goal thriller, advance to finals

ABS-CBN News

Published February 13, 2026 10:39 PM PHT

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UAAP Season 88

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