(FCF / Roehl Nino Bautista)

Defending champions University of the Philippines open campaign against University of the East

University of the Philippines, led by mainstays Jinggoy Valmayor and Deo Segunial, seek their third consecutive men’s crown in the opening of the UAAP Season 75 football tournament at the Ateneo de Manila University fields on December 2.

However, the Fighting Maroons will not play their first game until December 5, when they will face University of the East in their tournament opener.

The opening day of the first round touts a triple-header featuring tournament host Ateneo de Manila taking on UE at 9:30 am, followed by the De La Salle University-Far Eastern University fixture at 1:00 pm, and capped by Season 74 runners-up University of Santo Tomas taking on football tourney newcomers and Season 75 hosts National University at 3:00 pm.

Other matches of note include the ADMU vs DLSU showdown on December 9 at 3:00 pm, UST vs DLSU on December 13 at 3:00 pm, the Battle of Katipunan showdown of ADMU vs UP on December 21 at 3:00 pm, and the title showdown rematch between UST and UP on December 18 at 10:00 am.

The full men’s football tournament first round schedule are as follows, with the team mentioned first in the schedule as the designated light colored team:

December 2 (Sunday)
9:30 am – ADMU vs UE
1:00 pm – DLSU vs FEU
3:00 pm – NU vs UST

December 5 (Wednesday)
10:00 am – DLSU vs NU
1:00 pm – UST vs ADMU
3:00 pm – UE vs UP

December 9 (Sunday)
10:00 am – UP vs FEU
1:00 pm – UE vs UST
3:00 pm – ADMU vs DLSU

December 13 (Thursday)
10:00 am – FEU vs ADMU
1:00 pm – UP vs NU
3:00 pm – UST vs DLSU

December 16 (Sunday)
10:00 am – UP vs DLSU
1:00 pm – NU vs ADMU
3:00 pm – FEU vs UE

December 18 (Tuesday)
10:00 am – UST vs UP
1:00 pm – UE vs DLSU
3:00 pm – FEU vs NU

December 21 (Friday)
10:00 am – NU vs UE
1:00 pm – UST vs FEU
3:00 pm – ADMU vs UP