Three convincing wins in as many games. There’s no hotter team right now in the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Football Tournament than the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
It may be early in the season, but Ateneo’s latest win — a 5-1 victory against the University of Santo Tomas tonight at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila — should count them as title contenders this season.
Javier Gayoso (10′), Ryan Haosen (37′), and substitute forwards Ed Baña (49′) and Paolo Alilam (83′ & 90+4′) scored the goals for the Blue Eagles, while AJ Pasion (12′) provided one for the Growling Tigers.
“Sobrang saya ko ngayon kasi nakuha ang third straight win. Yung team naglaro talaga ng maayos,” beamed Ateneo mentor JP Merida after the game. “Especially ang game ngayon ang ganda talaga ng counterattack. Nakita ko na they’re not tired. Talagang overload sa counterattack.”
The game was played at a frenetic pace in the first half. Gayoso upped the ante when he eluded the UST defense then released a looper, which left Growling Tigers goalie Zaldy Abraham helpless in the 10th minute.
Ateneo had no time to celebrate, as the Blue Eagles committed a defensive lapse in the next play which allowed UST to equalize. In the 12th minute, the Blue Eagles failed to clear their defensive lines and allowed a scramble in their box, which helped Pasion to equalize.
Both teams threatened to score another goal before the break as neither slowed the game down. Dionisio Busmion saw his header parried away by Ateneo goalie Jae Arcilla, while Abraham deflected Gayoso’s freekick outwards.
It felt inevitable that a goal would come, and it did in the 37th minute when rookie Haosen converted a Gayoso corner kick into the net to restore Ateneo’s lead. The first half ended with Ateneo holding a 2-1 cushion over UST, but the game was far from over.
Upon the restart, Ateneo proved to be the more aggressive side which came out from the dugout. Spearheaded by Gayoso, UST were held back more often than not due to combination plays by the Blue Eagles.
Gayoso could have even added two more to his personal tally if not for some wayward finishing. While the sophomore shot badly, he made up for it with an assist. Gayoso and substitute striker Baña combined as the latter gave finished calmly in the 49th minute to give Ateneo a precious two-goal edge away from UST.
All momentum was with the Blue Eagles. UST’s evening was summed up when Busmion skied his shot in Ateneo’s box. The game was well and truly over when another substitute, Alilam, was in the right place at the right time to score the Blue Eagles’ fourth and fifth goals in the 83rd and 90+4 minutes.
The Katipunan school won 5-1 against UST in what was a good warmup for their next game against archrivals De La Salle University.
“For me ito yung pinakamahirap mag-adjust kasi transition defending, nag back five din sila. Ngayon kailangan namin gawin ngayon is pano namin gagawan ng paraan ang La Salle kasi sa transition defending ang bilis nila mag-recover sa defensive third,” explained Merida.
Ateneo (3-0-0) will play La Salle at 4:00 PM, while UST (0-0-2) shall play University of the East at 2:00 PM. Both games will be held on February 16 at Ateneo’s Moro Lorenzo Field.
UST XI: Abraham, Benecio, Bricenio, Busmion Da, Busmion Di, De Castro, Gymban, Menares, Molino, Pasion, Regala
ADMU XI: Arcilla, Castillo, Ceniza, Gayoso, Grierson, Haosen, Jarvis, Lim, Poe, Rocha, Roxas
