From the bustling football scene of Iloilo City to the bright lights of the UAAP, Geoff Marqueses is proving he belongs on the big stage.
The 15-year-old Ilonggo forward has been key in De La Salle Zobel’s push for a return to the finals in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament, scoring two goals in five matches as the Junior Green Booters remain in the thick of the postseason race.
A newcomer to the league, Marqueses has embraced the challenge of playing under pressure, showing maturity beyond his years as he navigates the competition and stakes his claim as one of the rising stars of high school football.
“Siguro, the changes (make) less pressure kase if it’s only four teams, mahirap bawiin yung points, pero if it’s six teams, there are a lot of games,” he said. “Each game, we can learn and excel, we can be better at kaya bawiin yung points and yung goals. That’s why na-less yung pressure when it comes to habulan ng points system going into the semi-finals.
“I think it’s pretty solid naman going into the second round with that stats kase may mga difficulties kami at first, pero coming into the UAAP season, I think we started strong naman (despite) losing to the defending champs, which is super frustrating samin, pero we’re going bounce back stronger.”
Marqueses’ love for football began at eight years old as a way to bond with friends.
Over time, he realized his potential and saw the sport as a pathway to securing a quality education and building a successful future.
“It’s my first year in DLSZ,” Marqueses shared.
“I studied high school at the National Academy of Sports in Tarlac, which is a government school, and then I went to San Beda College Alabang for a year.”
Initially, track and field was his sport at NAS, but his love for football never faded.
“Actually, my sports in NAS was running talaga, so I’m an athletics player, pero it’s based on sports talaga—like lahat connected siya or integrated siya sa sports lahat ng subject. It’s okay lang naman, pero I can see na mas professional sa DLSZ since may program talaga and successful people talaga (yun na-produce).”
During the pandemic, he temporarily stepped away from football but eventually reignited his passion.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite receiving offers from multiple universities and club teams willing to support his education, he hesitated due to self-doubt and the pressure of playing at a high level.
“I don’t know what event I was in sa track and field kase I only tried it and I didn’t play football there. Kase before pandemic, I started playing football, then since the pandemic happened, I stopped. I was supposed to quit football na, pero I just pursued it and trained and trained until it came back and it was my passion na ulit. I tried out in multiple universities din. I got in, pero due to pressure, I didn’t go,” he shared.
“I chose to go to San Beda muna just to have experience. Di naman literally got in, but I tried out sa FEU, (where) I got in sa camp. I was supposed to go into the camp, pero I didn’t go because I feel na I wasn’t ready since we all know that FEU is a strong team. May mga clubs na nag-sponsor sakin to play for them, na papaaralin ako, (pero) di lang talaga ako ready.”
Now fully committed to football, Marqueses has big aspirations.
He dreams of extending his playing career beyond high school and college, eventually competing in the Philippines Football League (PFL).
His ultimate goal? To join a team synonymous with the glory days of the Azkals era of Philippine football.
“As I’ve said before, I play not only just to have fun. I play for my family, to help them, and to have a pathway to success. I plan on going pro. I want to be a pro, but if I’m not ready to play pros, maybe I’ll be in the UAAP na muna,” he said.
“For my dream as a football player, first I want to play with my full heart and I want to play with confidence. Right now, I think I’m bouncing back from injury, so my dream is to play well consistently. Of course, step by step, my dream club right now is One Taguig. After that, maybe I can go further and further in the national league, and maybe in Europe or Asia.”
