Bacchus Ekberg didn’t just defend — he delivered.
The De La Salle Zobel standout proved why he’s one of the top prospects in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament, scoring two stunning goals from outside the box to power the Junior Archers past Ateneo de Manila University last Saturday.
The Filipino-Swedish defender first struck with a perfectly placed free kick in the 13th minute before sealing the win with a long-range rocket in the 67th minute, showing that his impact extends far beyond the backline.
It was an outstanding performance from Ekberg, who was named Best Defender in Season 86.
For him, it was simply about stepping up when needed.
“I was giving more opportunities to the boys also and then so I just wanted to see cause we have a lot of new rookies this year and I wanted to check their ability and sometimes you just needed to step up and deliver one for the team,” said Ekberg.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite being a defender, Ekberg has the freedom to push forward and contribute to La Salle’s attack.
Covering both ends of the pitch is physically demanding, yet he does it consistently—a tribute, he says, to his former teammates who have since moved on to the collegiate level.
“It feels great,” he shared. “I keep playing the sport mostly for my seniors of last year. I could name a couple: Javier Bengson, Lucas Aguilar, and Nico Herce, who are now split into different schools in the UAAP. So it just feels great representing them and the school that they came from.”
Now in his final year with DLSZ, Ekberg is beginning to think about life after his time as a Junior Archer. One thing is certain — his football journey isn’t ending anytime soon.
“I’ll continue playing football for sure, but here in the Philippines,” he said.
“I had my stint of playing international football already, and Philippine football is home. The community here is great — it’s very small and very homey. So where I will go next year stays as a question mark.”
