For the first time since UAAP Season 79, De La Salle University will be watching from the sidelines when the Final Four of the Men’s Football Tournament kicks off this Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Green Booters saw their semifinal and championship hopes fade after archrival Ateneo held them to a thrilling 2-2 stalemate, last Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The Blue Eagles only needed a draw to advance to the next round.
It was a sorry end to the season for La Salle, which could only lament its failure to win against the also-ran University of the East last April 21.
Those three points then would have meant that avoiding a loss against Ateneo would be enough to make it to the Final Four.
Come the full-time whistle against the Blue Eagles, the Green Booters were simply down on the UP pitch exhausted and drained after giving everything to no avail.
“I think we started the game really strong. We got the head start, we got the first goal, you know,” said goalkeeper Enrico Mangaoang. “Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
“Technically, we lost you know as we didn’t go into the Final Four. Despite that, this game, this season would be a good learning experience for the team moving to the next one.”
La Salle enjoyed a dream start against Ateneo when defender John Paul Josheb Bengay scored a header just two minutes into the contest.
However, Kofi Agyei and Fernando Roxas putting the ball at the back of the net in the 31st and 57th minutes turned things around for the Blue Eagles.
Green Booters forward Mohammad Almohjili scored a fantastic goal from a tight angle in the 74th minute, but that was as good as it got for La Salle.
Ateneo held on to book their ticket to the post-season.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“I just want to thank the La Salle community and my teammates for the opportunity and the adventure. I wouldn’t ask for any other university,” said the graduating Almohjili.
“Even if this season we had a very sad ending – fifth place – I wouldn’t change it for any other teams. I started with La Salle, I’ll end it with La Salle. That’s all. Thank God for this adventure. Hopefully, the boys can finish what we started.”
As they say, the only way to go is up.
After it failed to make the Final Four in Season 79, La Salle bounced back by returning to the semifinals in Season 80 and reaching the final in Season 81.
Only time will tell if the Green Booters can reflect, rebuild and return in a major way in the years to come after this setback. There will be at least seven slots in the team next season with Almohjili, Bengay, and striker Isaac Anoh included in the list of graduates.
Indeed, the challenge to revive the program and make it stronger has commenced for La Salle now that it is in its off-season.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“We learned a lot. Since I’m graduating, this was something I really, really wanted to win. But like they say in life – not everything you want, you can get,” said Anoh, who finished the season with eight goals.
“But I know the boys and the coaches, we fought until the last breath so I’m not disappointed with the boys. It’s a result. We can’t do anything about it. What you have to do is try to bounce back next year,” he continued.
He added, “I would say thank you so much to the La Salle community for supporting us until the last minute. Their help was really, really huge in those games. So sorry because we failed to make it to the Final Four and win the championship.
“That’s something the boys will work on in the upcoming season. That’s for sure. We’re still gonna help them in any way that we can. Like us seniors graduating, from afar, we’re still gonna try to help them. We’ll try to push, push harder to try to make things happen.”
