After finally returning to the Final Four in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament, De La Salle University has bolstered its attacking line for the future by securing one of the top talents from the UAAP high school ranks.
University of Santo Tomas standout Argos Alingalan — fresh off a nine-goal campaign that earned him the Best Striker and Golden Boot awards with the Junior Golden Booters — confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that he has committed to De La Salle University for the Green Booters’ UAAP Season 89 campaign.
“First of all, I asked and informed my parents if I could transfer to La Salle, and they agreed naman po kasi andiyan naman sila para suportahan ako sa desisyon ko,” said the 19-year-old forward. “I participated in their tryouts and, luckily, nakuha po ako. Thanks to God.
“Sa ngayon po, I am already playing with them in the pre-season, which is Ang Liga, and meron pa pong paparating na Tuloy Cup and maglalaro po ako doon.”
Alingalan reunites with former Junior Golden Booters teammates Edcel James Lauron and Lance Locsin, who also made the move from UST to La Salle after helping the school capture the UAAP Season 87 boys’ football championship.
Although the jump from high school to the collegiate level is never easy, the Tagum City National Comprehensive High School product said the Green Booters have made his transition much smoother.
“To my new teammates and seniors, mababait naman po sila, and tinutulungan po nila ako. Even the co-captain and captain don’t make me feel left out as a rookie. And now, I’m still adjusting to their attitudes because I’m new, and there are different attitudes and egos that I need to adapt to as a rookie,” he said.
Alingalan also expressed his desire to contribute to the Green Booters’ pursuit of a historic campaign while living up to the expectations that come with his decorated high school résumé.
“As a rookie, gusto ko po tumulong sa team na gumawa ng history. And I know na mahirap, pero tiwala lang sa Taas kasi walang imposible kung magpupursigi. And to my seniors, they have high expectations of me because I received an award, and I’m trying my best not to disappoint them — especially the coaches, managers, and my seniors,” he said.
“And now, I’m just adjusting to the new environment, and I hope I can adjust quickly so I can help the team.”
Now beginning his collegiate journey, Alingalan is focusing on proving himself within the Green Booters’ system. Rather than dwelling on the accomplishments of his high school career, he hopes to use them as motivation as he embraces the greater demands of the collegiate game.
With the preseason already underway, the young striker is eager to build chemistry with his new teammates ahead of the UAAP Season 89 campaign.
“I’m so excited to play for this school and team in the upcoming UAAP, and I hope we can build chemistry right away so we can play well,” he said.
“We will do our best to make history this upcoming season and magtitiwala lang po kami sa Taas.”
