For the first time in their great history, the University of the Philippines swept the UAAP Football Tournaments this Season 78 after the Men’s and Women’s Teams defeated their counterparts from the De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University respectively, to clinch both championships last Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
“I’m just happy that compared from last year’s performance, the way we played this season was two, three notches above in terms of overall play and in terms of fight, in terms of effort. Lahat eh. Icing on the cake itong Finals eh. The boys gave everything. They didn’t leave anything. Lahat binigay nila,” said UP head coach Anto Gonzales, after the Fighting Maroons defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles to clinch their first Men’s title in five seasons.
One factor which proved crucial to the Fighting Maroons winning the championship has been their current batch of rookies. The Fighting Maroons rookies’ impact this season was perhaps symbolized by Kintaro Miyagi’s hat-trick in the Finals against the Blue Eagles. There is no limit to what they can contribute to UP, and to Philippine football in general, with their abundant amount of talent.
Gonzales said, “I feel quite privileged that they chose UP. Also at the same time I know they feel the privilege to be in UP. They’re a very good bunch. Walang kaba; very good on the ball, technical skills, yung fight. Complete eh across all factors yung performance. We’re gonna have them for the next four years pa so hopefully we can keep this high standard of play.”
Before the Fighting Maroons defeated the Blue Eagles, though, all eyes were on the Lady Maroons as they took on the heavily-favored De La Salle Lady Archers. After ninety minutes, the Lady Maroons pulled off a resolute performance to shock the Lady Archers and hand them their first Season 78 loss in the Finals. There’s likely no better way to win your maiden UAAP Women’s Football Title than that.
Gonzales was full of praise for the Lady Maroons afterwards, as they had finally clinched the holy grail. “Underdogs sila but they pulled off an upset so to speak. Pag titignan niyo lahat ng individual awards lahat nasa La Salle pero I just told the girls, ‘Okay, I would have vouched for some of you to be included yung sa awardees pero hayaan na natin yun. Let’s just show them that we’re the better team.’ La Salle I thought dominated the first half pero I think yung fight, yung resilience, that’s what we showed nung game ng girls kanina.”
It has been a very dramatic year for the UP football teams. Things took a turn for the worse before a ball was even kicked this Season 78. One of their comrades, Rogie Maglinas, had passed away before the season started due to cancer. Maglinas’ passing served as motivation for the UP football teams before their UAAP campaign started.
“We’re so blessed. Rogie really inspired us. Yung example na iniwan niya, yung sipag na iniwan niya, yung fight na iniwan niya. Yun ang pinakita nila all throughout the season. Actually ako, itong Finals na ito walang stress, walang anxiety, walang pressure to win it because I was very satisfied with what they showed the whole season in terms of fight, in terms of effort. Wala na akong mahihingi pa”, Gonzales shared.
Gonzales wasn’t able to hold back his tears when he delivered a message to his former player. Maglinas would have been in his third playing year in the UAAP, and a vital cog in their lineup as a midfielder, until tragedy struck. Maglinas passed away at the age of 19 due to Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer which affects the muscles. In a heartwarming manner, Gonzales stated, “Rogie salamat sa lahat. Sana kasama ka namin ngayon. Nakita mo kung papano yung team. Yung iniwan niya mananatili yan parati sa amin: yung fight, yung sipag, yung appreciation para sa maliliit na bagay. Sana masaya siya kung nasaan man siya ngayon.”
Rizal Memorial was filled with many members of the UP community who arrived in droves to support the UP football teams’ quest for double UAAP Football Titles. That fact wasn’t lost on Gonzales as he then had one last message for Maglinas. “I mean the support this year has been tremendous across all borders: admin, mga outsiders. Ang daming tumulong and I think yung death ni Rogie that really brought us all together towards one goal which was to get this for him.”
In the end, UP were worthy double winners. Their hard work on and off the pitch paid off in the best possible way: Para kay Rogie!
