Ateneo de Manila University has kicked off the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament with a perfect record, winning its first five matches by scoring 13 goals and conceding only three.
Nearly half of the Blue Eagles’ goals have come from one standout player – Dov Cariño, who has netted six times, including two goals against defending champions UP Fighting Maroons on October 10.
His most recent goal came last Sunday against the University of Santo Tomas, a 40th-minute tap-in that set the tone for Ateneo’s 2-0 victory at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
For Cariño, it’s all about doing his job for the team.
“Of course, every goal feels amazing. It felt really good to be able to score for the team and to go one-nil up in the first half,” said the former Azkals Development Team member, who currently leads the Golden Boot race, closely followed by Far Eastern University’s Edgar Aban Jr., with five goals.
In recent seasons, Ateneo has been a strong contender for the crown whenever they have an outstanding attacking player.
Jarvey Gayoso, who led Ateneo to championships in Seasons 79 and 81, and Kofi Agyei, who scored nine goals in 13 matches last season, are prime examples.
While pleased with Cariño’s performance, three-time UAAP champion coach JP Merida emphasized that the 20-year-old attacking midfielder should not be compared to Gayoso or Agyei.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Of course, with Dov Cariño, umaangat ang laro niya,” said Merida. “I’m really expecting him to perform every game, and I think that’s why he stands out. There’s consistency in his performance. But I don’t want to compare him to the two. What sets Dov apart is his hard work.”
He went on, “Gayoso was a clinical striker. Agyei, with his height, was very strong in the air. But Dov, he can play any position as a utility player. His movements are very dangerous for opponents, even when they try to man-mark him on crosses.
“He can lose defenders, which is his strength. He’s also a finisher, but if you look at him, he’s a utility player who can perform in any role.”
As Ateneo aims for a first-round sweep by beating the University of the East this Thursday, it’s likely that one of UE’s key strategies will be to stop the Blue Eagles’ red-hot midfielder.
However, Cariño is focused on following Merida’s instructions to be a versatile player who does everything on the pitch, not just score goals.
“Hopefully, Coach JP Merida trusts me to do what he wants me to do, and I think I’ve been delivering so far. Hopefully, I’ve earned a bit more trust from Coach to perform every game,” Cariño shared.
“There’s always something to improve on. I could make more runs, more tackles, take more shots, and improve my goal-to-attempt ratio. But overall, there’s always something to work on, and we’re constantly trying to improve in training.”
