University of Santo Tomas coach Marjo Allado expressed disappointment over the Golden Booters’ performance in their semifinal clash against Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Golden Booters suffered a 2-1 loss to the Blue Eagles, and the former national team player did not hold back in his criticism of how his players competed. He believed that the team lacked the necessary desire to perform at this stage of the season.
“It’s about the attitude eh,” Allado said. “Kasi lahat naman tina-tackle namin dito sa training sessions before the match at nag-start motivated naman sila. Pero sometimes it’s about character ng players kasi kung titignan mo kanina yung second half, kung ako yung nanunuod kung ako yung audience kanina, sasabihin ko ang boring at sayang ang punta ko dito.
“Walang football ako (nakita). Di siya ano sa expectations ko. Di ko naman inaano yung player ko individually, as a team ito. Kung gusto mo ayusin, you have to ano talaga eh, kung gusto mo mag-maintain ng good team, you have me to scout your players talaga.”
UST was the only semifinal entrant this year that did not reach the 20-point mark by the end of the eliminations, in contrast to Ateneo, University of the Philippines, and Far Eastern University.
The Golden Booters also failed to secure a win against Ateneo in both rounds.
While the results could have been better, Allado had hoped his players would fight valiantly and spring a surprise in the Final Four. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Yun nga sinasabi nga namin na coaches na first round (at) second round ng UAAP eliminations, inconsistent (kami) especially in the second round eh kasi isang panalo lang kami pero nakapasok parin kami sa semifinals. We advised the players na wala na tapos na yung eliminations this is a different ball game na,” said Allado, a former coach of Global FC.
“Gusto lang namin na mag-perform sila kahit talo ka pero parang yung nangyari kanina you just gave the semifinals away easily na lang eh. Medyo down, not only the coaches, but the players. We wanted more from the players so it’s something about the character na questionable.
“We tried to adjust kanina. We removed some players kasi parang pagod. We expected (more) sa ibang players na pumasok but they were more tired kesa sa mga nanggaling duon sa loob na naglaro ng 16–17 minutes e. Kaya parang nagugulat kami eh. Kumain ba tong players ko o hindi? Kasi Ateneo look tired na rin, nag-sub na rin sila eh so para sakin kanina sa game, both teams naman naglaro ng same intensity. Pero (pagdating sa) kung sino matured kanina, sino mas motivated mag-score, I think it was Ateneo,” he added.
With the Golden Booters’ campaign now over, Allado is already looking ahead to next year. He mentioned that some of the Tiger Cubs, who will compete in next month’s boys’ high school tournament, will be promoted to the collegiate ranks.
He believes this will increase competition for spots on the team and allow him to make necessary cuts for players who failed to perform in the biggest game of the season.
“Yung gra-graduate (ay sila) Tj Garciano at Miguel Abada. Pero yung program ngayon sa juniors, nag-start na eh,” he said. “Marami ng aakyat sa college, so it’s about competition na. So ibig sabihin, may players na posibleng di na maretain. Kasi kung ganito yung character na pinapakita, kailangan ng competition talaga.
“Sa juniors kasi, finalist naman kasi yan (last season) at tsaka may experience sila sa UAAP. So kung titignan mo, magagaling yan eh kaya may competition ngayon kung gusto mo talaga mag-stay sa men’s team kasi ganun mangyayari. So sa ngayon, wala muna. Pahinga muna sila kasi last game na yan eh, relax muna sila (at) aral muna.”
