The Bummer II
Ateneo 0 vs. DLSU 2
sad story by rick olivares pic by aly yap
At the half of the second round match between Ateneo and La Salle, there was a very telling scene. The Green Booters were up 2-nil on an own goal by Ateneo defender Carl Llado and a nifty strike by Nico Laluces.
Over at the La Salle side, the team sat in front of mentor Hans Smit patiently listening to what they had done right and what they needed to do to close it out.
At the blue side, the players sat one on side talking amongst themselves in a circle; the coaching staff sat on the bench a few yards away, disconnected yet terribly pained.
The game was effectively over after 45 minutes of play. If Ateneo were to come back, they didn’t show it upon the resumption of the game as the visiting team renewed their measured assault.
A week earlier, Smit arrived at the Taft pitch ready for practice. From his parked car along Taft he could see his players joking around, laughing as if the thrashing they received in recent days from UE and the disappointing draw with UST meant nothing. His team, on the strength of a superb performance in the UFL, was seeded to compete for the title. Instead, they were floundering. Smit tendered his resignation; a move that shocked his team (only for La Salle school authorities to turn it down). “Man, iniwan na tayo ni coach,” fretted one player.
A week earlier, Ateneo came away with a desperate draw with floundering UP. They salvaged a point for the game but the team was not in sync with themselves and with their coaching staff. Arnulfo Merida, at the helm for two decades had been upset about attitudes and a seeming lack of fight. If for the curious and unknowledgeable onlooker it was only a game, then he must never heard of Liverpool great Bill Shankly who famously once said, “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."
Pre-season analysts pegged the Blue Booters to finish at fifth place. Though currently at fourth, they stunned FEU with a 2-1 win in their opening match, perhaps an overachieving feat that gave false hopes to the blue masses. Another loss or two – and they had yet to play FEU and UST – and they could readily tumble into fifth. Last season, they avoided the bottom by mere percentage points. If last year was horrific, this year was bitingly disappointing. And that is a massive understatement.
“With all due respect to La Salle, Ateneo also did not come to play,” pronounced Philippine Football Federation official Joaqui Preysler who served as match commissioner after the game.
Maybe he was right for Ateneo Team Captain Gabriel Siojo, in a fit of disgust, flung his jersey off and told his team: “Take your jerseys off! We do not deserve to wear that jersey today!” Many complied. Some like attacking midfielder Gerard Cancio, stared forlornly at the ground.
All season long Cancio, one of the two remnants of the glory three-peat years, had been giving his all, this being his final year. Stretched to the maximum, running to the front and to the rear to help out on defense, he has found it difficult to get into scoring position. Marked almost as soon as the game began, he’s had few scoring strikes. On occasion when he set a perfect cross, his teammates missed on their chances.
With central back Mario Marcelo out on suspension for two yellow cards, Carl Llado replaced him in the middle. But with a hobbling Fred Ozaeta on the left, they were easy pickings. It also forced Jacobo Lorenzo to stay back longer than he should have.
Lorenzo is of fine stock. But the big league is evidence of his rookie status and the difference between high school and collegiate football. On the team’s first possession of the game, he was the beneficiary of a sublime back heel pass by striker Derrick Candelaria. Lorenzo advanced down the right side line and instead of letting loose a cross, hesitated and allowed DLSU captain Nico Laluces to poke the ball out. It was a wasted opportunity. And so was the game.
With UP on the verge of having all their matches forfeited for allowing two players to suit up in another rival league at the same time, it was after all against UAAP rules, there was an opportunity, however ugly since it was at UP’s expense, to move up in the standings. But Ateneo blew an opportunity to win and almost draw level with second-running FEU.
A ball bounced off Llado’s face for an own goal. It was more than a simple error. Llado was right in front of Ateneo keeper RS Mantos, who had played valiantly all season long but had to stop more than his share of shots. The spacing had been horrible. In fact, at time the back four had been too flat, at times too deep and it has allowed foes to take unmarked and clear shots (see UST first round). And La Salle would do it again when Laluces, at the 42nd minute, was unmarked inside the danger zone and blasted away for another goal that put his side up 2-nil.
All season long, Ateneo has had to bleed for its goals. They’ve had a hard time rallying. Only once did they lead and that was in the first match against FEU when scored in the 25th minute.
There were a few chances. Four in fact, but all the balls were struck in the direction of DLSU keeper Patrick Deyto who didn’t have to work much all afternoon long.
After the game, a forlorn Ateneo team sat on the bench. And many lingered in the darkness after many had left. The time for words, speeches, and motivational talks were over. Three matches left if they want to make any headway.
Starting Elevens:
Ateneo – RS Mantos, Keith King, Carl Llado, Fred Ozaeta, Jacobo Lorenzo, Gab Siojo, Anton Amistoso, Paul Cheng, Gerard Cancio, Derrick Candelaria, and Luigi Meer
La Salle – Patrick Deyto, Ray Behag, Justin Gatmaitan, Nico Laluces, Rafi Millan, Miguel Montelibano, Juan Antonio Pato, Rainier Perales, Eric Romero-Salas, Nazer Talento, Nikko Valle, and Fedricco Rabaya
Stats:
Corners:
Ateneo – 6
La Salle – 5
Free Kicks
Ateneo – 6
La Salle – 6
Shots on goal
Ateneo – 6
La Salle – 8
Offside
Ateneo – 3
La Salle – 1
Yellow Cards
Ateneo – 1
La Salle - 1
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