Ateneo Men's Football Match #2 Reunions, Grudge Matches, and a Good Old Butt Kicking
Ateneo 4 vs. De La Salle 0 by rick olvares
Match 2 January 17, 2008 Erenchun Field Ateneo De Manila University
The finals of the 2006 UAAP men’s football tournament seem like an awful long time ago what with last year’s debacle. But for some it isn’t long enough. There are still enough holdovers from both Ateneo and La Salle who played in that game and look forward to a reunion of sorts on the pitch.
Gerard Cancio was a rookie on a talent-laden team then and he felt lucky enough not have the weight of expectations bear down on him what with a plethora of scorers, strikers, and players who led the Blue Booters during those years. Last season, the mantle fell on him to lead the blue and white to an unheard of fourth straight crown but in a cruel twist of fate he was lost to a knee injury with the tournament barely five minutes old. Although he did come back in time for the team’s swan song, he barely made a difference. For Cancio, stepping onto the pitch in under competitive conditions was uplifting. But for Season 70 with trilogy cast members Pat and Fred Ozaeta, Doods Lansang, Jolo Peralta, and Alvin Perez, it is all about another go fling with greatness.
Kim Smit played in the 2006 finals and could have been the hero for La Salle had his goal not been disallowed because of an offside infraction. Instead he along with goalkeeper Abraham Lacaya had to endure the painful sight of Roger Lastimado’s bending stab from 30 feet ricochet off the post and into the back of the net in extra time for the historic win. Smit is a likeable fellow albeit nothing like his father Hans who was a firebrand of a player for the UP Maroons. The younger Smit denies that heading into this game they were thinking of revenge. “It’s just another game,” he said during warm-ups. “But in some ways it’s not.” The 2006 loss led to the dismissal of Coach Marlon Maro and the return of Hans who was at the helm of perhaps the most fearsome team in local women’s football, the many-time champions De La Salle Lady Archers. Hans was the men’s team’s former mentor and mastermind of several football triumphs including their late 1990’s titles. And after a suspension year, he looked to pick up from where he left off.
His team won the Uni-Games football championship and also gained valuable experience by playing in the Terry Razon Cup, Ang Liga, and a tournament in Bacolod all in preparation for the UAAP. After getting sidetracked against the defending champions UST, the elder Smit talked to his team about making a statement on Ateneo’s home field.
Unfortunately for them, it was the home team that did the talking by taking it to them.
In the 20th minute of the first half, Cancio outsprinted his defender but could not catch up to the long ball magnificently sent by midfielder Gab Siojo. Lacaya met the striker with a kick that went unnoticed by the referee (Cancio showed the stud marks on his jersey after the match). Three minutes later, the third year player nearly got to the ball right at the goal line and this time Lacaya gave him a forearm to the face. Cancio seemed miffed about roughhousing and looked to the referee for relief. While we all know that the officials are from the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) they sure did their best impression of NABRO.
With Ateneo’s defense thoroughly throwing off La Salle’s attack with a box on Kim Smit that prevented him from making any plays for his teammates, Ateneo’s offense shifted into high gear. In the 28th minute, Cancio once more broke from his defender that forced Lacaya to rush out. With a second defender covering the keeper’s left flank to prevent a wide angle shot, Cancio blooped a shot over the La Sallians that found the back of the net.
Just as Ateneo’s first goal sank UP in the first game of the year, this one had the same effect on La Salle. Said the Blue Booters’ coach Ompong Merida after the game, “We were already on target. It’s a matter of time before we broke the game open.”
True enough, another dropped ball by a goal keeper (the second in as many matches for Ateneo foes) led to another goal. In the 35th minute, after Cancio blasted a shot from inside the box, Lacaya anticipated its trajectory and he scooped up the ball. But whether it was from the topspin from the shot or plain bad luck, the ball popped out of his hands. Jolo Peralta was hanging around hoping to make something happened when the ball landed right in front of him. He pivoted to protect the ball from the keeper and punted the rock in for a 2-nil lead.
Eight minutes later right before the halftime cessation of hostilities, Cancio for the umpteenth time beat the defense and sent the ball past the hapless La Sallian keeper who rushed out for the challenge. Three-to-nothing for Ateneo.
“We’re not going to win this game if you don’t play defense,” thundered a smoldering Hans to his shell-shocked team. He called for a similar box on Ateneo’s Gab Siojo who Merida said was the team’s unsung hero.
Merida said of his second year midfielder, “Gabs controls the game with his passing and playmaking. He is just as important to our central defense and our attacking game.”
With nothing to lose, La Salle threw in a few more defenders to attack and place pressure on Ateneo’s defense. Although they dominated possession in the second half, when they attacked they chanced upon a wall that goes by the name of Pat Ozaeta, Alvin Perez, and the rock solid rookie Migs Tuason.
A Cancio goal for a hat trick in the 47th minute not only knocked Lacaya out of the game, but snuffed out any chances for a La Salle comeback. Coach Hans threw his hands up in the air in disgust as he mouthed off some choice words to any one who cared to listen. “That’s one good team right there,” he complimented afterwards.
“We still have a long way to go,” cautioned a wary Merida. “UST’s next this weekend. Then mag-usap tayo. Pero meron akong insurance policy… dalawa pa nga. I have my defensive backs and a healthy Gerard Cancio.”
The Tigers may have snatched the crown from Ateneo in Season 69, but the Blue Booters aren’t thinking of returning the favor. “It’s another game we have to play,” downplayed Cancio of the match-up.
No comments:
Post a Comment