The UAAP Season 88 men’s football tournament opens with a heavy three-match slate yesterday, as schools seek a fast start in hopes of dethroning reigning champion Far Eastern University (FEU).

Season 87 finalist Ateneo de Manila University opened the tournament against Adamson University, followed by a clash between the University of the Philippines (UP) and University of the East.

De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas closed out the day with the evening match.

All games will be held at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

For three-time champion mentor JP Merida, it is crucial for the Blue Eagles to approach each game as if it were their last in order to improve on last year’s finish.

Ateneo will come in strong this season with national team player Dov Cariño and striker Kofi Agyei, and Merida hopes the team’s fortunes will be different this time around.

Another school eager to reclaim the crown is UP, which relinquished its title to eventual winner FEU in a Final Four clash that became notable for a melee between both sides.

The Green Booters aim to return to the Final Four after two seasons in the wilderness, bolstered by offseason recruitment of new players and coaching staff. Meanwhile, the Golden Booters are targeting the championship, inspired by their juniors’ team — the Junior Golden Booters — which defeated the 12-time defending champions FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws to claim the Season 87 high school crown.

Meanwhile, defending champion FEU will begin its campaign on Thursday, September 25, against UP at the same venue.

The first round of Season 88 will run until November 23 at the latest before pausing for the Southeast Asian Games this December, with the season set to resume in January next year. (ABS-CBN news)