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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
