Born in Iloilo. Built in FEU.

For FEU’s Selwyn Mamon, football isn’t just a game. It’s a calling rooted deep in his Ilonggo blood. The 21-year-old forward from Janiuay, Iloilo, plays with raw emotion, fierce competitiveness, and an unshakable hunger for goals—something he proved once again with a hat-trick against UE, lifting his tally to seven goals this UAAP Season 88.

Mamon’s journey to FEU began in a PFF tournament where he represented Iloilo FA. “I didn’t know at first na meron pala scouts nun,” he recalls. “Coach Vincent called me after that tournament and asked if gusto ko mag-school sa FEU. He saw potential in me. I was grateful and hesitant at the same time because ayaw ko rin mapalayo sa family ko. But for the love of football, I pushed through.”

That leap of faith paid off. From his early days in the junior division to now leading the Tamaraws’ attack, Mamon has grown from a raw yet fearless talent into one of the league’s most dangerous forwards. Emotional, expressive, and unafraid to show what he feels on the pitch, he has become the face of FEU’s attacking firepower.

“I still want to go with FEU kasi it helped me a lot as who I am today as a player on and off the pitch. Kung sino yung tumulong sayo, binabalik ko lang sa kanila kung ano naitulong nila saakin,” he says.

Behind his sharp instincts and relentless drive stands one of his biggest influences, his former coach and Philippine football legend Ian Araneta, another Ilonggo striker known for his killer instinct.

“He really inspired me to become a striker,” Selwyn shares. “Palagi niya akong pinupush and gives advice on how to become a good striker.”

That connection feels like a passing of the torch from one Ilonggo goal hunter to the next. And while it may be too early to draw full comparisons, there’s no denying a resemblance in their game, especially in the physical and technical department. Selwyn Mamon’s growth, however, quietly hints at the next great Ilonggo striker in the making.

This UAAP season, the competition among strikers has been nothing short of fierce. Players like Kofi Agyei of Ateneo and Lucas Aguilar of La Salle, to name a few, have also been delivering for their teams and raising the level of attacking football across the league. For Mamon, that only fuels his fire even more, pushing him to show his own version of the No. 9 role: instinctive, emotional, and fearless.

Mamon’s roots in Iloilo remain his foundation.

“Football is life talaga samin,” he says proudly. “Lalo na sa Barotac Nuevo, bata pa lang marurunong na maglaro. The grassroots program, the coaches, the community, it’s all part of why Iloilo keeps producing talent.”

With passion as deep as his love for his hometown, Selwyn Mamon plays every match with purpose—to score, to inspire, and to honor where he came from. And as UAAP Season 88 unfolds, one thing’s for sure: defenders should keep their eyes on FEU’s rising No. 9, because Selwyn Mamon is a true striker—born hungry, built fearless, and bred to score.

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