Their presence must’ve meant a lot to the collegiate football stars.
Hali Long and Inna Palacios made time to watch the UAAP Season 85 women’s football finals between the De La Salle Lady Booters and the FEU Lady Tamaraws at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Sunday.
Palacios, a goalkeeper for the Philippine women’s national football team, formerly played for DLSU. No wonder, there seemed tension behind her beautiful smile as the hotly contested game was going on. Long, on the other hand, played college football abroad, but was just as engaged. The scenario was captured on Instagram by the Futbol Brew podcast.
Just like what they did when they came out to support the Philippine women’s volleyball team at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games—where they barely missed the knockout stage—the football stalwarts provided infectious energy from the stands as the Lady Booters and the Lady Tams went at it for a grueling 120 minutes.
In the end, Palacios’ alma mater came up short of defending its title as FEU successfully snatched the crown with a 2-1 victory after extra time. Sealing the hard-fought win for FEU was a goal at the 118th minute-mark, courtesy of Regine Rebosura. Given the intense circumstances, it was understandable why Inna and Hali were such a mood while watching the championship match.
Seeing the two members of the history-making Filipinas in full sport of the Philippine football scene, including that at the college level, sure means a lot for the country’s young footballers. Their passion for the game is palpable and it’s impossible for it to go for naught.
In the meantime, Palacios, Long and the rest of the national team will have their sights on the country's debut in the FIFA Women's World Cup in July.
(GM)