Contenders UP, FEU fire off UAAP football

By Josiah Albelda Posted Nov 23rd 2013

Schedule:
10:00am - DLSU vs UST
12:00pm - UP vs UE
3:00pm - FEU vs NU

Season 75 runners-up University of the Philippines begin their climb to the top when the Fighting Maroons take on University of the East at the start of the 76th UAAP football tournament Saturday at FEU Diliman in Quezon City.
 
The UP booters, who lost to Ateneo de Manila University in the finals last year, will attempt to regain the crown they last won in Season 74 in the seven-team tourney in their match against the Warriors at 12:00pm.
 
Tournament host Far Eastern University, who finished third last season, will also be serving notice of its title bid when it battles National University in the main game at 3:00pm.
 
Buoyed by the goal-scoring exploits of Jesus Melliza, the Tamaraws dazzled the league with 35 goals in Season 75, only to fall to the Fighting Maroons in the Final Four.
 
With Melliza and midfielders Paolo Bugas and Armel Amita back, FEU is one of the favorites to hoist the title they last bagged in Season 72.
 
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will be parading a team for the second straight year after a long absence from the tournament.
 
Leading the Sampaloc-based XI will be Paulo Salenga, who will hope to spark the squad to a better finish than the sixth they were able to deliver in Season 75.
 
De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas actually open hostilities when the two teams collide at 10:00am at the artificial turf.

The FEU - NU match will air live over Studio 23 and uaapsports.tv with a same day replay on BALLS SkyCable channel 34 or Destiny Cable channel 36.