In just a few months, two young football players have gone from promising high school standouts to living the dream on collegiate sports’ biggest stage.
At the start of the year, defender Nathan de Ocampo and goalkeeper Polo Tansingco were key figures in the inaugural PAREF Southridge squad that made waves as a guest team, even reaching the semifinals at the expense of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Fast forward to UAAP Season 88, and both are now donning the famed blue and white, representing Ateneo in the Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament.
“For me, it’s been amazing,” said De Ocampo. “I’ve really dreamed of making this step up ever since I was a kid. Playing in the UAAP has really been a dream of mine and my family’s, especially for Ateneo. It’s been really an amazing feeling.
“Transitioning from the juniors division to the seniors division hasn’t been easy, but the team has really helped me every step of the way.”
“I think it’s also a really big honor to make the team and to play alongside the greats, Kofi Agyei and Dov Cariño. It’s really an honor to play beside them, and ever since I was a kid, I was also an Atenean at heart. No doubt about it. A lot of my family is from Ateneo,” added Tansingco.
“I guess I’m really proud to represent Ateneo in the UAAP.”
Making the leap from high school standout to collegiate rookie is never easy. Not every player earns significant minutes, even in football, where 11 players are on the field at a time.
De Ocampo, however, has navigated the transition seamlessly, already starting several matches for Ateneo at right-back. He credits his more experienced teammates for smoothing his path into the seniors’ fold.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Of course, there are difficulties transitioning from juniors to seniors, namely: the physicality, the schedule is also different, and it’s more independent for me,” De Ocampo said.
“Like everything, there’s more on yourself. So if you want to do extra work, it’s on you; if you want to do gym work, you have to make the effort within your schedule, within your school schedule. But overall, the team has really helped me every step of the way. So I’m really thankful for it. The seniors help me adjust to them.”
Tansingco, meanwhile, made his debut as Ateneo’s goalkeeper against Far Eastern University last Sunday.
The BS Management student performed admirably until the 67th minute, when cramps forced him off. Four minutes later, FEU striker Selwyn Mamon scored the equalizer, and the game ended 1-1.
“Honestly, it’s a mixed feeling,” said Tansingco. “I know I played well, but what I’m really disappointed about is how I had to go out with an injury — cramps.
“And right after I saw FEU score, that one really hurt. I feel like if I stayed on the field, if I didn’t get that injury, if I didn’t cramp up, I could have made a bigger difference. Maybe Ateneo could have won.”
With the first round complete, Ateneo sits in a three-way tie with De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas, each with eight points.
For De Ocampo and Tansingco, the focus is now on taking the next step: helping the Blue Eagles reclaim the UAAP crown they last won in Season 81.
“It’s really amazing. I have no words to explain how it comes. It’s really great to be part of, not just studying in Ateneo, but also playing with the team, making it to the 23-man lineup; it’s really something great. And it’s something that, it’s not the end, because of course we still hope to win the championship. So this is just the start,” said De Ocampo.
“The way we had major injuries to two key players in the squad, Marcus Arias and Jethro Flores, it really impacted the team, but their replacements, Carlo Bautista and Kendrick Soriano, also stepped up. Coming into the second round, we need to play tougher, play harder. Focus on our weaknesses, focus on winning the ball back every single time. Focus on scoring,” said Tansingco.
