Maroon at
the top
It was a difficult season for UP but the finals game
was a cinch.
by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales
February 26, 2012
Ateneo High School Football Field
The football season began as it
started. With UP playing the first and last games and both, wins. More
importantly, they were defending champions when the tournament kicked off and
after two months of intense competition, they remain champions. And for good
measure, for the third time in four years.
The Fighting Maroons dominated the
championship game against punchless UST and they only needed one goal to
confirm their mastery of their EspaƱa-based foe that has yet to beat them in
two years. A simple through ball in the 61st minute by winger Jay
Eusebio slipped past central backs Ronald Batisla-Ong and Dadam Regis and that
put striker Jinggoy Valmayor in a one-on-one situation against keeper Mon
Borigas that was almost too easy. Valmayor simply slotted it in for his fifth
goal of the season.
At the start of the game, it looked
like UST’s rookie left back, John Timothy Bolo was battling a case of nerves as
he misplayed a series of first and second balls that UP was quick to exploit.
Valmayor dashed forward with Bolo and Batisla-Ong trying to close him down. But
the rock solid forward managed to get a shot off that Borigas parried away.
The Maroons forced the Tigers to make
their runs from the flanks and the wingers were not successful in sending
playable crosses for striker Ojay Clarino. Instead, they overshot their target
or were picked off by UP keeper Tyrone Caballes.
UP ended the first half with Ghanaian
midfielder Ayi Aryee volleying from some 25 yards out that was a little high above
the crossbar. Another message that the Maroons were finding the range.
UST, making its third consecutive
men’s football finals appearance (sadly all losing efforts), only found some
life to their attack when Nigerian forward Uche Ememandu came in after
Valmayor’s strike. But UP’s vaunted defense (that has surrendered only one goal
all season including two last year) clamped down and left the Tigers with no
shots on goal.
It wasn’t an easy season for the
champions as they only had one win and four draws to show after five matches. While
the team was clearly not in sync (with some flashes of infighting seen during
or after games), their defense, as anchored by central back Deo Segunial, held
them. They faced strong challenges from the other teams but in the second
round, they rediscovered their winning form.
The Tigers on the other hand, started
the tournament well but faded in the second round. Suspensions to starting
midfielders Ronnel Lagrimas and Ken Parao didn’t help their cause one bit in
the finals as their mids failed to feed Clarino a decent ball. They ended the
season once more in heartbreak and with more questions. With Clarino
graduating, there’s a hole up front that has to be filled. But perhaps, how can
this team bounce back after three successive defeats in the finals (2010 to FEU
and 2011 and 2012 to UP).
As for next year, “I’ll think about
that in a few month’s time,” said UP co-head coach Anto Gonzales after the
match. Gonzales won two titles as a player and three as head coach (with Frank
Muescan). “I want to celebrate first and savor this.”
Season Awardees:
Most Valuable Player – Nathan Octavio
(UP)
Best Striker – Jesus Melliza with
seven goals (FEU)
Best Midfielder – Ayi Nii Aryee
Best Defender – Shirmar Felongco (UST)
Best Goalkeeper – Tyrone Caballes (UP)
Rookie of the Year – Michael Simms
(UP)
sir Rick, isn't it that Felongco is a midfielder?..
ReplyDeleteYep. You will have to ask the geniuses in the UAAP how that happened.
ReplyDeleteUST is the new Netherlands. Haha. Hopefully they can emerge champions next season. Go USTe!
ReplyDeleteWhat a Sad time to be a defender... Must have been hard for the UP back four to have the best defender award given to a midfielder... I mean anyone of them could have won the award but it was given to a UST midfielder
ReplyDeletekahit po kaming taga UST nagtaka
ReplyDeleteabout that best defender title thing, it was kinda weird that it didn't go to UP. or it should have at least given to someone who fits the title. :( now time for basketball. i hope our maroons pick up this coming season.
ReplyDelete