The central midfielder is one of the most crucial positions in football, if not the most. And one the reasons for the recent success of the University of the Philippines men’s team has been their solid players in this vital position. Kale Alvarez, Jay Manlunas, Andrei Mercader, Stephen Permanes, and, of course, current Head Coach Anto Gonzales are only some of the best players who have served as the so-called “control tower” for the Maroons and eventually helped the team reach elite status.
Enter Sebastian Rafael Benedict Patangan, a rookie out of Dipolog City.
Sean, as he is more fondly called, showed some promise in his initial stint with the team in pre-season tournaments such as Ang Liga and the UniGames. Such performances have earned him the nod to start in the middle for UP.
The 17-year-old, however, shook off the initial pressure of being part of the starting XI in his very first year. “Somehow, meron[g pressure] pero kasi, because of years of playing [here] and also internationally, medyo yung kumpiyansa ko sa gitna medyo mataas na,” Patangan shared.
Sean also believes that his seniors have helped him focus on his role on the pitch. He stressed, “Palagi nila kaming pinupush na ma-maximize how we play; pati yung feeling na andun sila parati para sa ‘min, yung kumpiyansa namin tumaas dahil sa kanila.”
With ample support from everyone, Patangan shared that it has brought out the best in him. He always thinks of his crucial role in the team’s success. Likewise, the midfielder is also a firm believer of the age-old football adage, which most people like him stand on. Sean repeated, “Yun yung basehan ng game eh. Kung sino yung mananalo sa gitna, yun yung most probably magdo-dominate ng game.”
The Fighting Maroons are arguably a team brimming with talent in every position. This is what Patangan admitted as his primary motivation for him to do his best. He said, “Marami kasi kami sa team eh, so may competition talaga kami sa gitna, kaya yun din yung nagdadala sa ‘min.” With that, the rookie deservedly gets playing time and he is very thankful for his coaches. He believes, “Pinu-prove ko naman sa mga games and also sa training.”
Patangan, nevertheless, knows that he still has more to improve in order to be the next great central midfielder for the Maroons. “Kailangan ko rin ma-improve yung pag-organize. Kasi ngayon naninibago pa ko kasi rookie, hindi pa ko makapag-command ng maayos.” Sean also believes that he should likewise be a threat on offense, in order to add another dimension to his game as the man in the middle.
It might have just been thirteen UAAP matches so far for Sean, but with the way things are going, the future is looking bright for UP. Expect Patangan to be at the center of the uprising for the Fighting Maroons.
