Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

DLSU

Gonzales, Alcantara: Green Archers mean business in Season 78


The De La Salle University Green Archers have had a fantastic start to their UAAP Season 78 Men’s Football campaign. The Green Archers have won their first two games, unlike last season when they were undefeated but winless at the same time. They have defeated archrivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and fellow contenders University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 3-1 and 1-0 respectively.

For fourth year player Nace Gonzales, the circumstances of the Green Archers are better now compared to last season. “I feel great you know. It’s better than last year when we started games that would be draws. We were undefeated last year but winning is more satisfying for us because it proves we’ve improved from last year.

The win against the Fighting Maroons was a hard-earned result for the Green Archers. It took a solitary goal from rookie Jed Diamante to clinch the contest. Gonzales was full of praise for both teams after the match. “It just shows that both teams work hard. Props to UP. Even though they lost one of their most important players, they’re still able to recover with new recruits. It just also shows that everyone stepped up their game. No one’s a pushover and just makes the UAAP more exciting.”

The Green Archers have only conceded once so far this season. A key addition for them has been rookie Nathan Alcantara, who has started both games as the right back in their back four. The Archers claimed a clean sheet against UP, and Alcantara had a big role to play in that. He explained, “It’s all about the cohesiveness of the back four which is very important in this game and also the anticipation of the long balls behind the back four. That’s about it.

#ReadMore  CJ Cansino on leaving 'Bicol bubble': 'Mental health -- 'yun ang naging problema ko'

Alcantara also praised the Green Archers’ shape in the match. “It’s all about the structure of the team which I thought was the game changer for us which led to that first goal and the only goal of this game.

Nace-Gonzales Gonzales, Alcantara: Green Archers mean business in Season 78 DLSU Football News UAAP  - philippine sports news

Gonzales agreed with his teammate, and said that the jitters and the need to make adjustments were gone from the Green Archers after their first game against the Blue Eagles. Gonzales added, “Last week it was much more defensive wise which was the problem. Like I said, jitters. But then you could see in this game that the jitters are gone. We acted as a unit and when you play a good defense, the goals just come naturally.

Another factor which could prove instrumental to La Salle securing double UAAP Football Championships this Season 78 is team spirit. Alcantara elaborated, “I guess it’s the inspiration that the coaches give us and the inspiration that every one of the players in the DLSU, even the women’s team… We help each other. We push each other to our limits and we help each other in the game, most importantly.

Up next for the Green Archers are the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, who are hungry to make up for their sixth place finish last season. One thing that Gonzales wants the Green Archers to do is to continue their momentum. “UST last year was basically all rookies. They’ve experienced UAAP already so they’ll be a tough challenge but it’s basically a challenge for us to up our game, keep the momentum and show the UAAP we mean business.

#ReadMore  Perseverance leads to unexpected MVP for Pedrosa

Alcantara concurred with Gonzales. “We’ll show them that we’re here in the UAAP to do business. That we mean business. We’ll do our best in every way that we can to win that game.” 

JB-Borlongan-v-Nathan-Alcantara-1 Gonzales, Alcantara: Green Archers mean business in Season 78 DLSU Football News UAAP  - philippine sports news

Written By

Lorenzo's a frustrated author who knows a thing or two about Football and Basketball. Went all green from Ortigas to Taft. Supports Liverpool FC, FC Bayern Munich and the Alaska Aces


You May Also Like

ADMU

Kat Tolentino studying and playing for Ateneo de Manila University was a no-brainer for her. Back in 2013, a wide-eyed Tolentino was fresh off...

Basketball

Fran Yu’s decision to leave University of the East and, later on, move to Colegio de San Juan de Letran has always been told...

ADMU

There have been many accounts about Thirdy Ravena’s lost year. There was the story of how Thirdy used this as the inflection point of...

ADMU

There were so many storylines to look forward to before the start of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Football Tournament. Defending champion Ateneo de...

DLSU

The De La Salle University Green Archers have retained their hopes for reaching the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Football Tournament Final Four with a...

News

The Lady Maroons aren’t sneaking up on anyone this season. Last year, the University of the Philippines paraded a revamped squad with blue chip...

News

At the awarding and closing ceremonies of the UAAP Season 78, Rev. Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P., of the University of Santo Tomas, officially...

ADMU

For the first time in UAAP history, four extraordinary student-athletes were awarded as Athletes of the Year for the 78th Season of the league....

Advertisement