MANILA, Philippines—Jess Melliza completed a hattrick to steer third seed Far Eastern University to a compelling 5-1 win over No. 2 University of the Philippines Thursday in the UAAP season 75 men’s football final four.
The Tamaraws forged a rubber match on Sunday for a slot in the finals and a chance to dethrone the defending champion Maroons.
The league’s leading scorer in the eliminations with 18 goal, Melliza was on fire from the onset as he helped FEU build a commanding 4-1 lead at halftime.
Melliza opened up the scoring in the seventh minute, and followed it up with goals on the 34th and 45th minute at the Moro Lorenzo field in Ateneo.
Jinggoy Valmayor, the the Fighting Maroons’ top striker, pulled one back in the 40th minute but that was UP’s lone goal of the match.