Ateneo Men's Football Match #1 Football Poets, Ships, Goals and Yellow Cards

Ateneo 2 vs. UP 1

by rick olivares

January 13, 2008
Match 1
Erenchun Field
Ateneo De Manila University

“The ship is sinking. Do you want to reach our destination or dito na lang tayo?”

Arnulfo Merida is a philosopher masquerading as a football coach (or it is also believed to be the other way around). Schooled in the ancient Brazilian art of Joga Bonito whilst in the land of Pele, he waxes eloquent between X’s and O’s and 4-2-3-1 formations and win-one-for-the-Gipper pep talks. In Season 69, with a team wholly composed of freshmen and sophomores, he swung between anger and persuasion. But now, with the return of some pieces from the three-peat masterpiece to complement the future of Ateneo football, maybe he’s a little of Paolo Coelho.

“Do we move forward? Because I want to leave last year behind, but gentlemen, the boat is sinking.”

The first game of Season 70 of the UAAP Men’s Football Tournament was underway between Ateneo and UP and the two teams battled to a scoreless draw in the first half. The Maroons dominated ball possession and had more shots on goal owing to several free kicks from poor challenges. The defense had held but Merida was upset because they had been unable to mount any serious offensive threat. The previous day’s incessant rains had muddied the pitch and the square passes were easily picked off by UP’s defense.

The hallmark of Merida’s system has been its defense that is swift to lead counter-attacks. And he’s always placed a premium on his forwards being able to outsprint the defense and receive the forward pass. If they weren’t willing to minimize their fouls and stick to their game plan, he passionately implored, then the boat would definitely sink this early let alone it was the first game this season. Perfection. But to the football cognoscenti, it's playing the perfect game.

Barely a minute after the resumption of hostilities, James Arco, he of the sleight of feet and pocket-sized flash, slipped through from a forward pass. Before UP's defense could catch up, he chipped a nice cross to the left flank and found an onrushing Gino Tongson. UP keeper Jose Maria Mendezona came out to meet Tongson who slotted in a shot beyond his outstretched arms. Ateneo-1. UP-nil.

“The team’s morale sank with that goal,” disclosed Vanni Tolentino, the Diliman team’s taskmaster after the match. “Ateneo made its adjustments and they were quicker to the ball in the second half. And their defense was very good. (Alvin) Perez and (Pat) Ozaeta give them so much confidence.”

Any talk about Ateneo’s defense begins with Pat Ozaeta and his brother Fred. They were oft forced to play out of position last year as the team never recovered from the Gerard Cancio’s injury five minutes into the first game of the season and the dropping of Perez from the line-up before the matches got underway. Perez' return solidifies the defensive backline and eases the pressure off Ozaeta. And perhaps more importantly, it gives the team more chances for a swift counter.

Another equally important piece is the return of Doods Lansang, one of the figures behind the three-peat champs from 2004-06. Lansang provides backbone to the team’s once porous midfield corps.

Perez gave UP and the rest of the league a taste of what it was going to be like when they played Ateneo as he repeatedly foiled the Maroons’ incursions and stuck a dagger that pretty much killed any chance for an equalizer. He was a defensive stopper and an offensive threat.

In the 50^th minute Cancio was brought down just outside the box. As Pat Ozaeta’s free kick sailed straight into Mendezona’s arms, the UP keeper bobbled it and Cancio poked it free to Perez who booted it in for the game’s second goal. Perez ran back to his defensive line pointing to Ozaeta. Ateneo-2. UP-nil.

Merida slated several team goals this year. Chief among them is a strict adherence to the values of Fair Play and not to concede any goal. A few minutes after Ateneo’s second goal, Tongson got into some trash talking with one of the Maroons. It soon degenerated into trash talking. During a scuffle for ball possession at the midfield line, the UP player went down and Tongson blasted the ball at the fallen Maroons from close range. Before game officials could intervene, the UP player got up and kicked Tongson in the chest. The Maroon was red-carded while Tongson only received a yellow card. But in the 80^th minute, Tongson was sent off with his second yellow card of the match.

Merida was beside himself and harangued Tongson from the bench. In stoppage time, a momentary lapse in defense allowed Keith Mordeno to send the ball past Ateneo keeper Aris Mantos for the game’s final score. Ateneo-2. UP-1.

“We had to get back at them,” said a visibly elated Fred Ozaeta in spite of the furor that Tongson had caused (he will be suspended for Thursday grudge match with La Salle). “We didn’t beat them at all last year so this was a good win.”

But their coach was a startling contrast. Upset over Tongson’s lack of presence of mind and his being unavailable for the next game as well as the goal they conceded, he shouted above the singing of the alma mater. “That was a bad win. Panget ang laro niyo.”

As the team made its way towards the Ateneo Football Center office at the Blue Eagle Gym, the angry coach mumbled and conceded, “We’re not sinking, but we have a hole in the ship.”