FEU, ADMU booters start UAAP title defense

MANILA, Philippines – Defending men’s champion Far Eastern University and last year’s junior titlist Ateneo start their title retention bid today in the opening of 73rd University Athletic Association of the Philippines football events at the Ateneo fields.

The FEU Tamaraws of Rodolfo Alicante, who beat University of Santo Tomas last year for the title, meet the 2009 champion University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons of head coach Frank Muescam in the opening game at 9:30 a.m.

Last year’s first runner-up UST Tiger booters clash against the University of the East Red booters in the second game at 1 p.m. and the De La Salle University Green booters and the host Ateneo De Manila University Blue booters collide at 3 p.m.

FEU bucked Santo Tomas U’s twice-to-beat advantage to win the crown with 1-0 victory both in games 1 and 2 during last year’s finals.

In women games over at the Ocampo field, the UST Tigresses face the Ateneo Lady Blue booters at 1 p.m and the FEU Lady Tamaraws booters play against the UP Lady Maroons at 3 p.m.

Women’s reigning champion De La Salle University, under long-time mentor Hans Smit, draws a bye in the opening day of the event hosted by the Ateneo De Manila University.

In the juniors’ event also at the Ocampo field, host and reigning champion Ateneo collide against UST at 7:30 a.m. and FEU meet De La Salle Zobel at 9:30 a.m.

philstar.com