Edmar Adonis kept his composure when University of the East needed him to do so the most against University of the Philippines last Sunday in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Football Tournament.
The Tondo native converted a penalty in the 74th to level the content for the Red Warriors, who were down 1-0 thanks to Arturo Alleje’s 67th-minute goal.
Adonis’ intervention set UE on its way toward a memorable victory at the UP Diliman Football Field as his teammate Jhong Magallon’s header won the game for the Recto school in the 81st minute.
“Una, masaya kasi nung naglalaro kami ng friendlies dito sa UP, lagi kaming talo eh. Tapos nung first round, tabla pa kami sa kanila. Kaya masaya kasi ginawa lang namin yung best namin para manalo,” said the former Far Eastern University-Diliman standout.
“Thankful din ako kasi all out yung mga teammates ko. Di lang naman ako yung naglaro. Sila din.”
Indeed, it was a comeback victory that demonstrated the character of this batch of Red Warriors. Just a few days ago, they suffered a 2-1 loss to league leader De La Salle University.
If not for Adonis’s goal, UE could have tasted back-to-back defeats after finishing the first round unbeaten. Goals always change games and the Business Administration student’s spot-kick provided the light at the end of the tunnel for Fitch Arboleda’s men.
“Nakakapanghinayang kasi nung first found tinalo namin sila ng 5-1 kaya nakakapanghinayang na ganun tsaka di kami kumpleto nun,” said the 19-year-old midfielder.
“Nung na-skoran kami, parang ginanahan pa kami lalo kasi gusto rin namin ng panalo kasi nga yung last game namin talo kami.”
As things stand, UE sits in second place in the standings with 15 points behind four wins, three draws, and one defeat. The Red Warriors are in a good position to finally make the Final Four with four matches left in the elimination round.
This is the business end of the season. Adonis and his teammates look to finish the job, which proved to be far beyond their predecessors.
“Sa tingin ko, mas bubutihin pa namin sa training lalo na sa upcoming games namin para di kami makulelat.”
