IN a battle between fierce arch rivals, La Salle nipped Ateneo 1-0 to kick off the UAAP Season 88 women’s football tournament recently at the newly-opened Vermosa Sports Hub 1,200-seat bleachers and dugout in Imus, Cavite.
Striker Elisha Flor Maio Lubiano took the ball from a right corner kick to head in the winning goal in the 51st minute inside the crowded box for the first official UAAP goal scored on Vermosa’s artificial pitch in front of a sizeable weekend crowd.
“Having the UAAP community as the first to experience these upgrades is a source of great pride. We believe these improvements will significantly enhance the overall experience for players and supporters, fostering greater engagement and passion for the sport,” noted UAAP Season 88 football commissioner Rely San Agustin.
“We are thrilled to host the women’s football teams’ first UAAP game this season at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub and have the players and their team supporters enjoy the newly completed dugout facility, media room, and bleachers,” Nona Torres, Vermosa’s senior project development head, said.
“These facilities not only enhance comfort and functionality but also strengthen Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub’s role as a hub for athletes and fans alike,” added Torres of the new infrastructure at the sports complex that also features a 400-meter track oval and pole vault pit on top of a 50-meter Olympic swimming pool.
“We aim to make the Vermosa Sports Hub a go-to destination for both serious and recreational athletes alike,” said Vermosa Sports Hub facilities manager Hans Smit, who provided input in the design of the covered bleachers and two dugouts.
The dugouts feature modern showers, recovery areas, and secure storage spaces, providing athletes with an environment that allows them to prepare, perform, and recover at their best, according to Smit.
Conveniently on Daang Hari national highway and just a stone’s throw away from the Ayala Vermosa Mall, the Vermosa Sports Hub is fast becoming a regular location for sports activities and events such as footraces and biking festivals on weekends.
