Luis Henares wants De La Salle University to move forward quickly after its 4-1 loss to archrival Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Henares, who scored the equalizing goal for the Green Booters in the 51st minute, lamented La Salle’s failure to clear their lines, which allowed Ateneo’s Jet Dela Cruz and Fonzy Escobin to score headers in the second half, securing the win for the Blue Eagles.
“I think we weren’t able to address their set-pieces,” said the midfielder from Bacolod. “I think the preparation was probably lacking because, as you saw, it happened three times.
“The first time, we weren’t able to address it, and then it happened a second time, and then we weren’t able to address it again in the third one.”
Now with two consecutive matches without a win, La Salle finds itself in sixth place in the standings. While it is still early in the season to panic, the Green Booters clearly need to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.
The memory of last season’s failure to enter the Final Four for the first time since Season 79 still lingers in the team’s minds.
Without forwards Mohammed Almhojili and Franck Anoh, the Green Booters are still trying to figure out where their goals will come from.
Ultimately, though, La Salle needs to bounce back and find solutions to its problems quickly, especially with a match against University of Santo Tomas looming this Sunday.
“Of course, I’m excited,” Henares said. “Honestly, we can’t really sulk on this result. It’s Thursday today, and our next game is on Sunday. We have Friday and Saturday to prepare.
“We have to keep our heads up and can’t sulk on this result because it’s too soon.”
