As early as now, last year’s finalists Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles are showing some “One Big Fight” in the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Football tournament after registering four straight wins.
It is mainly due to their tremendous firepower on offense, with Season 78 co-awardee as Best Striker, sophomore Jarvey Gayoso, leading the way with seven of the squad’s 14 goals.
However, much should also be said of their defense, which has allowed just one goal in their strong run. It was all the more evident in the shutout of arch-rivals De La Salle University Green Archers, Thursday evening.
In the lead at the back that night was skipper-for-the-day Jeremiah Rocha. The defender took over the captain duties from former Rookie of the Year Carlo Liay, who is recovering from an injury.
Carlo Liay
For Rocha, there was nothing special with such nomination. “It’s is just like any other day for the team,” he shared. “Anybody can lead this team.”
“We have a saying here, ‘The strength of the wolf is the pack; the strength of the pack is the wolf.’ Each and everyone is a leader here.
“The only difference is I have something on my arm,” he quipped.
Nonetheless, with such a good showing against La Salle, the senior Blue Eagle is beaming with pride.
The centerback said, “It was such an honor [leading this team], especially against my former school. I get to show my alma maters what I can do for them.”
Rocha also proceeded to share that they are happy to get such a strong start.
“It feels great, especially we started bad last year. [Now,] all the hard work is paying off.”
The primary reason for such focus is their determination to bring back the title to Loyola Heights, the former La Salle Zobel upstart admitted. It has been five years since the Blue and White hoisted the UAAP trophy, and their current situation is such a morale-booster.
Rocha said, “I guess it is very important for [our] confidence and how bad we want to win this season. So yeah, it is important for us in our campaign to win the championship.”
This confidence is much-needed, as the Blue Eagles are marching once again with a bunch of rookies. The 20-year-old remarked, “I think that they are already confident, but we added more because of the crowd and, of course, the wins and the results. So, I guess that it helps them and the team as well.”
Nonetheless, Rocha believes that they have much to improve. He even admitted, “We’re never perfect here. We have to improve everything all the time.”
“I got a lot to work on, I say. I was training higher level with Meralco, and I see that I am not that special. You got to work hard.
“Even if you are big here, you may be small somewhere else. So you got to work hard all the time,” the third year blue booter said.
With such a tremendous start, the hungry wolves in form of the Blue Eagles are sending a strong statement to the other teams. And with Rocha and the rest of the squad willing to lead, Ateneo are ready to continue flying on.
