Stephen Marasigan played like a man with something to prove in University of Santo Tomas’ 2-0 win over Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Football Tournament last Sunday.
The 21-year-old forward scored both of the Golden Booters’ goals in the match to catapult his team to its first win this season. He could have scored another goal in the second half to seal a hattrick, but saw his attempt parried away to safety by Blue Eagles goalie Artuz Cezar.
Nevertheless, it was a good showing from Marasigan and it came at a good time considering the Espana school lost its opener to Far Eastern University.
“Actually, hindi yun ma-sco-score kung wala kaming teamwork. It’s all a team play since matagal din kami nag training for this. Two goals yun for UST. Super happy na first win kami ngayon,” said Marasigan.
“Masarap na manalo kasi it’s gonna be a long season. Maganda na nanalo kami ngayon kasi it will give us a boost and confidence.”
Marasigan is one of those student-athletes who have seen their UAAP careers shortened because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technically, he was a rookie back in Season 82, only for that campaign to be canceled.
So while he is a fourth-year student-athlete, he is only in his second playing year with the Golden Booters and he is eager to make up for lost time.
“Sa sobrang bilis ng oras, hindi mo din mamamalayan so going out there lang to enjoy and represent UST. Very happy din for UST din today,” said the Marketing Management student.
“Nag-fo-focus kami one game at a time. Yun nga, lahat ng teams ay gusto mag top four and then mag-champion so one game at a time kami ngayon and hopefully, tuloy-tuloy yung panalo namin.”
Next up for UST will be another tough game, this time against University of the Philippines. Whether he will start or come from the bench, Marasigan will no doubt be a marked man when he enters the pitch.
The onus is on him to add to his tally and bring the Golden Booters back to the promised land.
“Si Marasigan (ay) one of the top strikers here in the UAAP. Yung advice lang namin sa kanya ay to stay focused for the whole tournament because not only two goals pero more goals yung ma-sco-score niya,” said UST mentor Marjo Allado.
