As the elimination round of the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Football Tournament concludes on Thursday, the stakes cannot be higher for eternal collegiate rivals Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University.
The two will square off at 6:30 PM at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The two proud schools will contest what is essentially a playoff for the last ticket to this season’s Final Four. Sitting in fourth place with 17 points, the Blue Eagles need just a draw to make it to the semifinals.
On the other hand, the Green Booters, who have 15 points in fifth place, must go all-out for a win.
With the stakes this high, both camps are raring to go. Their coaches have won championships with their respective schools as players in their yesteryears.
Now, they seek to squeeze every bit of ability from their players to make it across the finish line.
“We are thinking that from now to Thursday’s do-or-die game, we need to switch on for every moment of football and also to win the last game to enter the Final Four,” said Ateneo coach JP Merida.
“As we face our rival DLSU in our do-or-die game, we’re calling the Blue Eagle community to support us and stand as one. The Blue and White will play our hearts out, and we will fight in every second of the game.”
“We were given three chances to enter the semifinals. This is our last chance – if we win this, we will reach the final. We want to play FEU again,” said La Salle coach Alvin Ocampo.
“It’s just a matter of wanting it more than the other team.”
(C) John Mauricio/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
When both sides first played each other this season last March 17, the Blue Eagles led most of the match after striker Kofi Agyei put them in front after just nine minutes.
However, the Green Booters turned up the pressure in the second half, which led to substitute Isaac Anoh’s 84th-minute equalizer.
In the end, both teams went home with a point each.
It promises to be another tight match between both sides. And with pride and the last Final Four ticket at stake, those representing the Blue Eagles and Green Booters will persevere every second on the pitch to claim full points.
“The pressure is undeniably high, but we are embracing the challenge and using this as motivation to push even harder,” said Agyei, who has eight goals to his name this season for Ateneo.
“A draw is enough, they say, but we are not settling for anything less than a win. I am fully aware of what’s at stake, and all I can say is that we are all ready to leave everything on the field for this match.”
“I am excited and always happy to represent and give my all for the Green and White – nothing more and nothing less,” said Green Booters captain Mohammad Almohjili.
“Speaking for the team, I think we are prepared to give it all for the victory, and it does not matter who we are up against. We will always try to do our best for La Salle.”
As things stand, the winner of the rivalry game can either face University of the Philippines or defending champion Far Eastern University.
The latter can seal the top spot with a win over also-ran University of the East in the 4:00 PM kickoff.
