Seniors Edcel Lauron and Vino Solidum will lead the pack of the University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Booters as they gun for revenge for last season’s championship loss and their maiden crown against the Far Eastern University - Diliman Baby Tamaraws, in the UAAP Season 87 junior football tournament on Saturday, March 29, at the University of the Philippines football pitch.

In an interview with TomasinoWeb, Lauron, the team’s main goalkeeper for most of the season, shared that a ‘different’ UST will be shown in the finals.

“Iba ‘yung makikita nila sa UST [this finals], and prepared po talaga kami [to defeat FEU] ngayon,” the UST keeper said.

“Lahat ng trinabaho namin mula training hanggang dito sa last game [ay] nagbunga po. Sana po [mag]patuloy-tuloy at makuha namin ‘yung championship,” he added.

Solidum, who had been the team’s primary option as a wingback and team captain this season, shared that the team also wants to make the best of it.

“I'm really happy since it's our senior year and it's our second consecutive finals, [and] we want to make the best of it,” said Solidum.

“Important lang sa akin [is] I give my best 100% and leave no regrets,” he added.

This will be the second consecutive time that both teams will face in the finals, and with the pressure on, Solidum shared that they will not succumb to any stress.

“Hindi kami magpapakain sa pressure kasi nag-prepare rin naman kami na maayos. Alam rin namin na nagpre-prepare ng maayos ‘yung FEU, but we need to be hungry for the win,” said the winger.

Although the team has lost their two elimination games against the Baby Tamaraws, UST assistant coach David Basa is still confident that the team can win against their longtime rivals.

“May tiwala talaga kaming [coaches] sa players na kaya nilang talunin ‘yung FEU, ma-overcome lang talaga nila ‘yung maybe pressure ng finals [at] tsaka mahanap nila ‘yung laro talaga nila,” said Basa.

Whilst confident, the assistant coach shared that there still are changes needed for the team to win the championship.

“Una, ‘yung composure ng boys, especially against FEU. Dapat ma-overcome nila ‘yung medyo shakiness [nila] inside the game,” he added.

“Finals na ‘yun, wala nang urungan [at] wala nang balikan,” said the former Golden Booter himself.

A maiden championship crown from the Junior Golden Booters could end the 13-year reign that the Baby Tamaraws started way back in 2012 in the 76th season of the UAAP.