Dov Cariño is thrilled to make up for lost time with Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament.
After missing the latter part of the Blue Eagles’ Season 85 campaign and the entire Season 86 Final Four run, the attacking midfielder marked his big return by scoring twice in Ateneo’s 3-0 victory over Adamson University last Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
“At first, I was feeling a bit nervous because after being out for a long time, there was a lot of pressure. But as the game started, I started feeling better and more confident in myself and the team,” Cariño shared.
Scoring in the opening game has significantly boosted his confidence.
“I think it was really good for my confidence because I was feeling a lot of pressure coming into this game. Being able to score really helps me believe in what I can do,” the 20-year-old midfielder added.
Cariño’s absence in Season 85 came as he prioritized the country’s 32nd Southeast Asian Games campaign in Cambodia and his academic commitments.
His ineligibility for Season 86 due to academic deficiencies only extended his time away from the team.
Despite this prolonged absence, his passion for the sport, school, and team never wavered.
In fact, it strengthened his resolve to become a better player.
“At that time, I had a lot of mixed emotions because it was my dream to play for the national team. However, it was also my dream to play for Ateneo since I was a kid. I was really happy but also disappointed since I couldn’t do both,” Cariño admitted.
The experience at the SEA Games was an eye-opener for Cariño, as it exposed him to a higher level of competition.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“It made me see how different the level is from the best players from other countries. It allowed me to gauge my ability compared to theirs and figure out what I needed to practice to help me compete with the best of the best,” he explained.
Even during his ineligibility, Cariño remained committed to the Blue Eagles.
“I kept training with the team even if I couldn’t play [in the UAAP] last season. I would go to training every day to support them and help in any way I could. I also played friendlies with them and never left the team,” he said.
With the graduation of Season 86 Golden Boot co-awardee Kofi Agyei, Cariño is now seen as a key player who can ignite the Blue Eagles’ attack.
After his stellar performance against Adamson, he is focused on maintaining consistency and becoming one of his team’s standout players.
Up next for Ateneo is a rescheduled fixture against archrival De La Salle University on October 3, after their original match was abandoned due to poor weather.
The former Azkals Development Team standout is eagerly anticipating the clash.
“Of course, I was disappointed because the team had been preparing for a long time. It was exciting because it was a rivalry match. When it gets postponed, the whole team is disappointed, but we’re training again for our next game against them,” Cariño said.
