One Shining Moment

Ateneo Women’s Football in Season 70
by rick olivares

Almost from the start of the crucial second round match between Ateneo and La Salle, a supporter repeatedly yelled, “fight for the ball, Ateneo,” and “don’t wait for the ball.” Owing to the goals scored difference, the Ateneo Lady Booters needed to score two more goals than La Salle for the right to meet defending champion FEU in the women’s football finals. They drew with the green and white in the first round and they knew that this wouldn’t be an easy game.

Normally, the team doesn’t mind the crowd throwing words of support or instructions because as team captain Kae Guerrero says “We can’t see everything that goes on during the game.” But this time central back Belay Fernando momentarily averted her gaze from the action just a few meters away to plead her team’s cause, ”You’re not helping us when you say that. You’re pressuring us all the more. Can’t you see we’re trying?”

The word is, “trying.”

For the first time in more than a decade, we had a team good enough to try and compete for a title. The Lady Booters long the league’s doormats and whipping girls found their groove, their passing, and the heart to challenge the league’s perennial powers.

Ateneo women’s football. The rhetoric of failure in a sport that is a most passionate play. It is said that if someone asked if our teams (even those of yesteryear) were any good, the laconic answer was, “they sure were pretty.” But after awhile, the eye candy turned into eyesores as they became the football version of the NU Bulldogs.

But this Season 70, all things came together as they beat UP 1-0 on Opening Day. And to prove that it was no fluke they handed the defending champs a 3-1 beating for the first consecutive win by an Ateneo women’s football team since we began fielding a team. They drew with La Salle in their next assignment before falling to UST to round out the first round of play. Said goal keeper Kring Leyco who was also a player on the Lady Eagles’ first ever basketball champions, “In the pre-season we started to play better and pick up some wins. But topping the first round of play still surprised us.”

After last year, the team’s coach, former Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ star Buda Bautista, and her assistant Karen Cacho, who for two year’s donned the green and white of La Salle before finishing her studies in the United States, were not supposed to come back. But the Ateneo’s athletics officials prevailed upon them to stay for one more year. Bautista wanted to move on to something else but couldn’t resist the pull knowing there was still some unfinished business.

Added Guerrero, “When my batch and I (all whom are graduating this year) came in four years ago, coach just joined us. So we grew into this at the same time. As corny as it may sound it seemed natural for all of us to go out together.”

The year-long grind of training also wore down Bautista. “When I wake up in the morning I think of the team. Before I go to bed at night I still think of the team and how we could get better.”

And they did. In years past, the Lady Booters would play defense, clear the ball and go for the occasional attack. They tried heir best to harvest a win but they were happy to end up with a draw. This year with nine seniors in tow, they felt the time had come for them to move up to the next level. “The preparation for this campaign began two years ago,” revealed Guerrero. “We were basically the same team and we knew how to play coach’s system and what she wanted of us. We feel that we were better equipped mentally and physically to take on the challenges of the season.”

Driven with a renewed sense of purpose, there was a plan simple: don’t concede any goals and to attack for those goals and wins. They accomplished that it the first round but consecutive losses put them in the untenable position of watching the fortunes of other teams and scoring more goals to make up the difference.

“Even in those second round losses to UST and FEU, we knew we could have won but there was just a lot of pressure,” said midfielder Sarah Jesri.

In the biggest game of the season, they were up against La Salle in a match that would be a test of their resolve. It so happened it was against Hans Smit's girls. La Salle were not their dominant selves but they still had enough of their champion team to stand their ground. The task of winning by a margin of two goals wasn’t going to be easy and the girls were every bit nervous.

“All our preparation would amount to nothing if we don’t focus and not let the pressure get to us,” cautioned Bautista in the pre-game huddle.

And they came out hard and immediately put La Salle on their heels. Even when the green booters made their half time adjustment of putting up some of their defensive backs to clog the midfield, Ateneo was getting solid chances at the goal. But in the dying minutes of the game, a missed clearance and a powerful blast by La Salle rookie Samantha Nierras found a hole in the defense and in the Ateneo team’s heart.

It was hard to contain their emotions as the final whistle blew. The players let their tears flow freely and coach Bautista had to walk off the pitch to steel herself. Various school officials offered their thanks for a most unforgettable season despite its (un)forgettable ending. Bautista and Cacho along with the nine graduating seniors bade their teary-eyed goodbyes. They did have a good night as they had a good dinner and laughs. The following day, many were already in smiles. But before they went their own separate ways in the night, Bautista among many words had one final thing to say, “Think of what you all achieved for yourselves, the team and Ateneo sports”

And the word is “achieve.”

For Belay Fernando, Aimee Limketee. Kae Guerrero, Alice De La Pena, Monica Santos, Sam Santiago, Ge Dumayas, Gold Jacinto, Gel Chan, Erika Silva, Kring Leyco, Sarah Jesri, Cesca Gutierrez, Deb Sobrepena, Doreen Fermin, Maia Mallari, Kylie Misa, Shim Cabrera, Tata Garcia, and Megan Sy.

And for Buda Bautista, Karen Cacho, Jerwin Belina, and Brax Vallasote.

One Big Fight!