MANILA – An Antiqueño booter was among the members of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws squad that recently captured the UAAP Season 85 men’s seniors football championship.
Rustel Justin Buenafe, a native of San Jose, Antique, is a first-year midfielder player for the Tamaraws which regained the UAAP championship after eight years following a 4-1 victory over Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the finals.
The 23-year-old Buenafe usually plays the off-the-bench role for the Vince Santos-mentored Tamaraws booters but provides instant impact on the team when he is on the field.
“My goal in playing football is to always have the respect of my coaches and teammates. I always act with kindness without expecting gratitude in return,” the Antiqueño football player said.
The 5-foot-8 Buenafe, who grew up with his mother, was already a potential football athlete since his younger days in San Jose as he was a product of the Antique National School football team.
One of the achievements of Buenafe during his high school years was when he represented Western Visayas in the Palarong Pambansa in 2018 held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
But it was when the Antiqueno booter was playing in a football tournament in Negros Occidental when he caught the eye of the coaches of the FEU men’s football team last year.
“My dream school really is University of Santo Tomas because there are a lot of Ilonggo players there but I am grateful to be recruited by FEU and become a UAAP champion in my rookie year,” Buenafe said.
Buenafe was one of the plenty Western Visayas-based players on FEU roster aside from Ilonggos Khent Bryan Valenzuela, RJ Rey Pescadera, Mel Anthony Baylon, Sherwin Basindalan, and Martini Geri.
The Tamaraws finished the elimination round in third place with 20 points, on five wins, five draws and two losses before defeating De La Salle University Green Booters in the semifinals, 2-0, and Ateneo in the finals./PN
