From a personal standpoint, Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles goalkeeper JP Oracion has had a mixed UAAP Season 78 Men’s Football Tournament campaign. Oracion started out as the main goalkeeper for the Blue Eagles, only to be replaced by rookie Kenn James in the latter part of the season. Last Thursday (April 28, 2016), however, was Oracion’s shining moment.
Ateneo head coach JP Merida had elected to replace James with Oracion in the last few minutes of stoppage time. A penalty shootout then ensued between the Blue Eagles and their Final Four opponents, archrivals De La Salle University Green Archers, to determine who faces the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons a week later for the championship. Players from the Blue and Green camps converted their penalties. In the end, it all boiled down to Oracion and La Salle’s Jose Montelibano. Amidst all the pressure and spotlight, Oracion managed to deny Montelibano’s penalty and ensure an Ateneo return to the Finals for the first time since Season 75.
Oracion was elated after the game. He said, “Si Kenn James na yung nag-start. Pinasok ako siguro ni coach (JP Merida) as a role(-player) for the penalties kasi malapit na. As a hero, grabe! Kasi usually hindi yung goalkeepers yung nagpapanalo ng game eh. It’s the scorers. Yun yung talagang tatandaan. Today, when I saved that penalty then everyone ran to me tapos people cheering my name… ang sarap! More than sulit. Masarap lang talaga!”
Oracion definitely enjoyed being part of the action. In fact, it was sort of a rerun, as Ateneo had entered the Season 75 Finals the same way after heroics from then-goalkeeper Nick O’ Donnell. Oracion, though, was just relaxed. “Going into the penalty shootout, alam kong no pressure. No pressure from Nick. No pressure from my teammates. I just gave my best to perform in the penalty shootout and yun nga going back to the feeling of sending your team to the Finals again after three years, ibang klase. It’s written in the history books na I saved the penalty to get to the Finals.”
As mentioned earlier, it’s been a roller-coaster campaign for Oracion. Despite the fact that James has supplanted him, Oracion feels no ill will towards his teammate. “Actually na-foresee ko siya kasi yung weakness ko is the goal-kick tapos dun malakas si James. I foresaw it. Kahit sa training basta I think what’s important is nagtutulungan kami. I tell him things in games and he tells me things na rin. I’m okay with it actually. If it’s my role, then I’m gonna fulfill it.”
James himself alluded in an interview that he and Oracion have no sense of animosity against each other. This was also confirmed by Oracion, who emphasized that he and James are good friends. He explained, “Actually sense of humor lang talaga. Baliw siya, baliw ako. Our jokes are super babaw. We just clicked. Nakilala ko siya, not like close friend, pero kilala ko siya nung high school pa lang ako. Tapos biglang loko-loko pala ito. Sure mag-click kami. So it’s not a problem.”
The last time Ateneo beat La Salle in the Final Four was en route to their Season 75 championship, UP were their opponents in the Finals. This season, the Fighting Maroons have shown their mastery of the Blue Eagles with identical 1-0 wins. Nevertheless, the omens are there for Ateneo. “History all over again? Maybe. Lalo na we lost the two elimination round games to them, we want revenge. We’re hungry,” Oracion shared.
If there was one thing Oracion believes enabled Ateneo to get this far in Season 78, it is heart. He added, “We started from 6th place or 7th place after the first round and we’re here in the Finals again. I think that’s something to show.” Anything can happen in football and it isn’t impossible to see Ateneo regain that championship against a side whom they haven’t beaten this season. Whether he is starting or not, Oracion has played a role in what could be an unlikely championship.
