The Crucible
Ateneo 1 vs. UP 1
story by rick olivares picture by kevin ochoa
The Ateneo Men’s Football Team isn’t what it once was. The last time they were in form and deadly was two years ago when they nearly won a fourth UAAP title in five years but lost to FEU in the finals.
The hallmark of their dominance on the pitch – stingy defense, superb passing, and a toughness that ran from the physical to the mental – aren’t there anymore despite the presence of the last remnants of its fabled three-peat team in attacking mid Gerard Cancio and central back Fred Ozaeta. Oh, the Blue Booters still play with a passion but one wonders if they have to dig themselves into a hole before a sense of urgency takes a hold of them.
At the end of the first round of Season 72, the team finished with 6 points; good for fourth in the six team tournament right behind UST, FEU, and defending champion UP. A team can afford only so much to lose before the lack of points will put them out of the running for a finals berth.
And earlier, the Tamaraws closed the gap with front-running UST with a 1-nil win over UE courtesy of dazzling strike by defender Romnick Jover in the 70th minute that gave them a full three points. The Growling Tigers avoided the upset axe from a strong challenge by a disappointing La Salle team that was touted to compete for the crown this year via goalless draw to salvage a point in the standings.
The Tigers were up with 14 points with FEU close behind at 13. UP heading into the derby with their Katipunan neighbors Ateneo were in third place with 9 points. The home team had 6 points while DLSU was at fifth with 4 points and UE at the rear with 3.
Both Ateneo and UP needed the full three points that a win awards if they wanted to keep their finals dreams alive. Ateneo had not played consistently after their opening day upset of FEU and had twice been victimized by officials’ calls. UP in the meantime, had to do some soul searching of its own. An open forum amongst the players was held and some felt that the team’s seniors had to be held accountable for their two consecutive loses that suddenly put their title-retention bid in jeopardy. Head Coach Frank Muescan noted that after three successive wins, the team relaxed thinking that the league would simply roll over for another Maroons coronation. “They should respect the other teams more because there is no single game that is an automatic win,” underscored co-head coach Anto Gonzales.
Unlike in their first round match up where the Maroons totally dominated the match, they found a stingier Ateneo defense this time around. The first legitimate strike of the game in fact belonged to the team in white with blue trimmings. Then 10 minutes into the match, UP tightened up on the defense and Ateneo was unable to get any forward movement from the wings as Enzo Bonoan, starting in the place of the suspended Luigi Meer, and Jacobo Lorenzo were stymied. With only the middle as an option, the Maroons rendered ineffective Anton Amistoso who had played well at the top of the attacking diamond formation.
But Ateneo’s defense held. But one had to wonder if it was a matter of time before UP scored. With a flawless passing game and superb skill in advancing the ball through timely flicks, back heels, and slots through gaps in a back four that was way too flat, UP had numerous scoring chances with Ayi Aryee, Francis Liza, and Keith Mordeno muffing point blank stabs. On one occasion, they had three successive corner kicks in one sortie that Ateneo keeper RS Mantos superbly turned back.
“That was pivotal,” remarked Muescan after the match. On all three attempts, the defense had been beaten but Mantos who in his own words “tinapon ko na lang sarili ko sa harapan ng bola basta lang hindi sila maka-goal” saved the day.
But even the best goal keepers of which Mantos was adjudged as the best in the title run of two years ago, can stem the tide when the foes step up their attacks.
A missed header by Choy Kapunan just past the midfield saw the ball bounce deep into Ateneo territory. Mordeno pounced on the Ateneo error and let loose a shot that was blocked by Mantos. But with two of his own defenders in front, there was some confusion as to where the ball was and Mordeno tapped in back in for the first goal with the second half barely two minutes old.
Prior to the start of the match, Blue Booter captain Gabriel Siojo had asked his team if they believed that they could beat UP and still make it to the finals. He said that there are matters that one cannot see or physically touch and that was where one’s convictions came to play. “If I can believe in something that I cannot see then I don’t know why we all cannot fight for the same thing.”
The UP goal incredibly sparked some life in Ateneo. “Tara, white. Laban!” urged Siojo.
With another painful loss staring at them and time slipping away so precariously, Ateneo rookie Miggy Monfort found his team captain in the middle of the field. Siojo took one dribble and immediately slotted it right through two UP defenders and Cancio, for the life of him and his team, was off to the races.
It was the only successful three-touch pass of Ateneo for the entire game. Almost every previous attack had been stopped with an errant square pass, a lack of hustle, or the tough defense of a patient foe. But this one, maybe the law of averages had caught up, had gone right through.
From the right side of the field, Cancio beat the captain of UP’s defense Jed Rances and forced Maroons keeper Gabby Tañada to rush out towards the edge of the box.
Cancio avoided a tackle and with his left foot, sent the ball rolling towards an empty net. Nate Octavio gave chase but the ball had gone past the line and in the 87th minute, Ateneo had the equalizer.
It was Cancio’s second goal of the season tying him with Siojo (Derek Candelaria scored Ateneo’s only other goal). It was as much a product of heart as it was of skill. Because of Cancio’s capability of single-handedly beating opposing defenses, coaches geared their defense to marking him and Siojo. “Stop them, you stop Ateneo,” observed UST coach Marjo Allado after his team’s huge win versus Ateneo last week. For the most part, teams have been successful but this time, Cancio’s score knocked the starch out of UP and it was their turn to play with an air of desperation.
With three minutes of injury time added, Ateneo held on. They grabbed a crucial point to give them a total of 7 while UP’s point put them at 10 and both squads with four matches to play.
“Quota na,” offered Ateneo mentor Ompong Merida after the match referring to loses and draws. “If we want to make our championship dreams a reality we have to win every game from here on.”
It’s not something the team can see but the draw, snatched from the jaws of defeat, gave them the confidence of playing the top sides in the competition.
Summed up a relieved Siojo: “We just have to believe.”
Starting Elevens:
Ateneo – Anton Amistoso, James Arco, Enzo Bonoan, Gerard Cancio, Paul Cheng, Keith King, Jacob Lorenzo, RS Mantos, Mario Marcelo, Fred Ozaeta, Gabriel Siojo
UP – Ayi Aryee, Mark Custodio, Albert Francisco, Jorell Garcia, Francis Liza, Andrei Mercader, Keith Mordeno, Nate Octavio, Stephen Permanes, Jed Rances, Allen Serna, Gabby Tañada
Notes: Ateneo played without Carl Llado and Luigi Meer who were suspended for the match on account of red and yellow cards respectively. UP was without Jay Eusebio also on two yellow cards. Steve Permanes was issued a yellow card for diving earlier in the game. Ateneo’s Marcelo will miss Wednesday’s match versus La Salle as he was carded for a poor tackle.
UP’s campaign is in seriously jeopardy when it was discovered that two of its players are concurrently suiting up in the UFL. League rules stipulate that when the season is on, no one can play in another tournament. The players in question are Ayi Aryee and Nate De Guzman.
Juniors Football
In the junior’s side, host Ateneo blanked UST, 7-0, and FEU routed La Salle-Zobel, 6-0, to remain tied on top with 3-0-1 log for 10 points each. UST stayed winless in four games while La Salle-Zobel chalked up a 1-3-0 log.
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