Throughout its campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament, PAREF Southridge has proven it can compete with the league’s perennial contenders.
However, one lingering question remained — could it deliver against one of them?
That question was answered last Saturday when Southridge held defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman to a 1-1 draw. They prevented the Baby Tamaraws from securing an outright finals berth and ensuring that the Final Four format would be played.
Leading the Admirals’ valiant stand was captain Nathan De Ocampo, a consistent member of the starting 11 who seamlessly shifts between right-back and midfield depending on the team’s defensive setup.
“It feels amazing to deny FEU the season sweep,” said the Grade 12 ABM student. “You can see how good they are, and you can see how much it means to us to fight until the end to get that one point. Honestly, it hasn’t been a great start to the campaign for us, so we hope this can be a turning point to get more points and hopefully make it to the Final Four.
“I think you could tell from the start that we were a little bit nervous, especially in the first game, but I’m sure you’ve seen in our recent matches how we’ve been improving. Our goal is really to prove that we deserve to be here.”
Leading by Example
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
As captain, De Ocampo takes pride in leading his team through its UAAP debut, hoping to play for one of its collegiate teams next season.
Southridge’s growth has been evident — from a tough 5-2 opening loss to the University of Santo Tomas to holding FEU-D to a draw, keeping its semifinal hopes alive.
Beyond just chasing a Final Four spot, the Admirals are also representing their school in its first-ever UAAP appearance. Southridge has produced numerous athletes in football and baseball, but this marks the institution’s first official participation in the league.
The players embrace the responsibility of being ambassadors both on and off the pitch.
“I think in Southridge, we try to build holistic students,” said the Muntinlupa native.
“For us, it’s always student-athlete — with ‘student’ coming first. No matter what, we have to prioritize academics and maintain high grades. I can speak for everyone on my team when I say we give it our all on and off the field because Southridge builds us to be men of integrity and gentlemen.”
The team has also had to adjust to the heightened intensity of the UAAP.
“It wasn’t just the pitch we had to get used to — it was the whole atmosphere,” De Ocampo admitted. “The UAAP has a different level of competition. I think we were a bit starstruck when we faced UST in our first game, and it wasn’t our best performance. But that only made us hungrier to fight harder in the next games and move forward.”
A Milestone Moment
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With three games left in the elimination round, Southridge still has a chance to make history by reaching the Final Four in its maiden UAAP campaign — a remarkable feat for a guest team.
On a personal level, it would be a fitting end to De Ocampo’s high school career with the Admirals. Playing in the UAAP is another milestone in his unique football journey, which began when he lived overseas as a child.
Growing up abroad gave him insight into what homegrown players need to compete internationally. For Philippine football to develop further, he believes the grassroots level must continue improving.
“I fell in love with football when I was four years old,” he recalled. “My brother was playing, and I’d watch him with his friends. One day, my mom told the coach and asked if I could join. I ended up playing with the bigger boys, but I had so much fun.
“Actually, we lived abroad for the first few years of my life. My brother played in Switzerland, and I’d watch him there. I don’t want to compare too much since I was only there for three or four years, but you can see the difference. The tempo is much faster in European football,” he added.
“But Philippine football is catching up — with teams like FEU and the competition in the UAAP, we’re slowly getting there.”
With its Final Four hopes still alive, Southridge will look to build on its progress and prove that it belongs among the UAAP’s best.
