Ateneo Blue Eagles forward Javier Ocampo Gayoso has had a fantastic rookie year in this UAAP Season 78 Men’s Football Tournament. Having played either as the main striker or now as a left-winger, Gayoso has scored seven goals out of twelve games so far this season. His latest goal, perhaps the most important yet, came against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws last Sunday (April 10, 2016) to help Ateneo clinch their biggest win this season.
After the match, however, Gayoso deflected all the credit. “I shouldn’t take any of it actually. I think the goal was a given goal to the team for the great effort that we played, for the great heart that we put on the field and for the hard work that we did to get this win.”
Inconsistency has plagued the Blue Eagles this season. Three days before Ateneo’s win against FEU came a home loss to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Gayoso felt that the Blue Eagles had showed more heart, discipline, and determination against the Tamaraws after this loss to the Fighting Maroons. “We’re just very determined to get ourselves back into that race for the Final Four and we knew exactly what to do when the moment we stepped into the stadium and we just put all our heart out and our focus into this game and just getting that win or that draw. We’re blessed by that goal which was given to us, not to me, but the team”, he added.
After that rousing win, Gayoso feels that it was only onwards and upwards for Ateneo this season. “Every huddle before the game we always tell each other, ‘No way!’ We always scream to each other, ‘No way! It’s not gonna happen again’. Our mentality right now, going against La Salle and NU, is that we’re not gonna give them another chance to score. We’re not gonna give them another chance to get into that race. This is ours. This is our heart. We’re putting our heart out just to play, just to win, just to get into that Final Four.”
Gayoso started this season as a striker, only to revert to his more natural role as a left-winger. He quipped that he had grown up playing at the left flank and that he delivers better crosses from that side of the pitch since he’s left-footed. He explained, “It was a big adjustment from me coming from high school division to college division. What more adding the fact that I needed to adjust in becoming a striker. When coach wanted me back as a winger, I felt more comfortable playing the way the team wanted me to play and at the same time the way coach wanted me to play.”
Adjustments – there are bound to be many coming from high school to college. In particular, Gayoso felt he had to adjust to the physicality of college level. “In high school they actually tell each other it’s a different game in college. The crowd, the way the players… the physicality. It’s a big difference coming from high school to college”, said Gayoso.
An interesting fact about Gayoso is that his uncle, Alvin Ocampo, was a former national team member and is currently an assistant coach of the De La Salle Green Archers. Gayoso believes that football is in his family’s blood. “My Tito Alvin, his brother Tito Theo and my lolos from both sides of the family played football. I guess it’s a big part of me that we play football and we’re so natural the way we play football”, he shared. Any Ateneo-La Salle shenanigans with his Tito Alvin, though?
“There’s no rivalry when it comes to family, of course. (Alvin Ocampo)’s there to support me even if I’m there playing against him. He’s always been there for my progress. Of course, blood is thicker than water.”
Safe to say that Gayoso has been worth the hype. He was seen as one of the blue-chip rookies this season and, save for some jitters at the start, has proven his worth to his team and the league. A Rookie of the Year award, however, isn’t at the top of his priorities. “My mindset is more of to put Ateneo’s name back into the Final Four. It’s an incentive of course to get known as the Rookie of the Year, but my mindset right now is to get my teammates and I into the Final Four.”
Up next for Ateneo are La Salle on their home turn. After a big win, only another will do against their archrivals. “We’re definitely gonna come on stronger. We have the momentum now with us coming from the loss against UP and to this win. We’re definitely more inspired and motivated to continue winning.” If indeed Ateneo makes it to the Final Four, then who knows? Maybe the Blue Eagles can reclaim that UAAP title. Whatever happens, though, expect Gayoso to spearhead Ateneo’s attack for years to come.
