Photo by Czar Dancel/UFL
Playing in their first season at the top flight, JP Voltes is making a lot of heads turn. Last year’s second best Division II side, JPV now aims to be one of the best among the big boys of Philippine club football and with the way they have been playing, that idea is not really farfetched.
JP Voltes is currently in fourth place after playing eight games into the season. They now have five wins, a draw, and two losses to show, a record that allows them to keep pace with the powerhouse sides of the division. Currently in fourth place, JPV is eyeing to gain more ground as they strive to pull a shock this season. “We aren’t giving up yet. Of course, we still want to be champion,” Playing Coach Yu Hoshide stated.
And why not? JP Voltes has been showing that they have what it takes to play with the giants. They may have lost 4-0 to Global, but in keeping the game tight in the first half JPV managed to make their opponents work harder to grind out a result in the end. They nearly toppled 10-man Ceres had it not been for a late collapse where they conceded three late goals, eventually losing the game 4-2. Against perennial dark horses Stallion, they fought hard and scraped a 0-0 draw.
The way JP Voltes reacted to these results may just say a lot about the team’s character. Unlike usual underdogs who come a tad short against the big guns, JPV actually found it rather disappointing. “I cannot say it’s good record because we lost two games even if it was against Global and Ceres. We dominated especially against Ceres. We were winning 2-1 and they were 10-men then we lost. We were very disappointed,” Hoshide recalled. A similar fate could have happened against Green Archers United last Wednesday if it was not for a fortunate turnaround.
“We are losing in the first 30 minutes. After the stoppages we changed a bit our tactics. That’s the reason we won,” Hoshide commented after the game against GAU. Trailing early via a converted penalty, JPV found a way to regroup when the match was temporarily abandoned due to lightning. As play resumed, JPV looked the more relaxed of the two teams and after taking the lead in the second half, they didn’t look back.
According to Hoshide, the team spirit in their camp is what they are trying to strengthen. A mixture of Japanese and Filipino players, JP Voltes can be considered an ongoing project that he believes will have the right mix for success. “Our training is Japanese-style. Passing and helping each other. We don’t have superstars. We have to give always 100%. We are always challengers, that’s why we have to work hard. We win as a team, we lose as a team,” he furthered.
Another challenge beckons for JP Voltes on July 2 when they face another big team in the form of Kaya FC. A point separates them in the table, with their upcoming adversaries playing a game less. Having blown their chances in the past, JPV will definitely be eager to show to everyone that they are here to compete. A result against last year’s Cup champions would surely be a strong testament to their desire to be on top.
