When Jarvey Gayoso is in full stride for the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, there are few other players like him in the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Football Tournament who can dominate a match.
The fourth-year booter’s mixture of speed and precision was on full show again in their last game. He scored three goals to lead the Blue Eagles to a 7-1 trashing of the Adamson University Soaring Falcons last March 31, 2019, in FEU-Diliman.
“It feels good.
“I’ve been struggling to find opportunities to score, but it was great that we were able to find space and I was able to take the right opportunities to score,” commented Gayoso after he scored his hat trick. The forward has elevated his personal record to seven goals this year.
By his lofty standards, Gayoso had an indifferent start to Season 81. The scion of prominent Filipino athletes Ed Ocampo and Jayvee Gayoso failed to score in Ateneo’s first three games this year, which also coincided with the Blue Eagles’ skid of two losses and one draw.
When the Season 79 MVP finally scored his first goals of the campaign against UST last March 7, 2019, the Katipunan-based school then went on to win four out of their next five games by high margins. Their only loss came at the hands of archrivals De La Salle University at the end of the first round.
The 22-year-old forward explained, “We just stick to our mantra. We stick to our mindset that we could never be assured (of victory) no matter how many goals we have or how many times we score. We find that we always should be hungry for scoring more and doing our part in the defensive area.”
On an individual note, Gayoso’s seven goals so far this season has dampened that opponents have figured him out, and that he relies on former Ateneo midfielder Enzo Ceniza, who combined with him to great effect back in Season 80.
“Those who coach (Jay Pee Merida) has assigned to play in the midfield, to take that spot that was missing, they all performed well. They all took the responsibility with a lot of confidence and they started to shine also,” said the former Blue Eaglet.
In contrast to how they opened the season, the Blue Eagles have started the second round in impressive fashion with 4-1 and 7-1 routs at the expense of FEU and Adamson respectively. With 11 goals in only two games, Ateneo are peaking at the right time.
“All we want to do right now is keep a high mindset and at the same time be humbled by the experience and learn from the mistakes that we made; and just continue doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and what coach wants us to be doing.”
For now, though, Gayoso has a chance to lead the Blue Eagles as they try to avenge their first-round loss to the Green Archers on April 4, 2019, 3:30 PM in FEU-Diliman. However, the Season 79 gold medalist played down any notion of vengeance.
“We’re all just focusing on doing what we have to do. As much as it is a rivalry, we’d always just want to do our best and treat every other team as if we’re going against them in the finals,” he said.
Once the Green Archers step on the turf, they shall no doubt try to take note of Gayoso’s every move. Now that he’s finally found his stride, though, the three-time Best Striker wouldn’t mind the added attention.
