The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles picked up a badly-needed result and some realizations to take into a challenging push for a Final Four place when they defeated the UE Red Warriors, 2-1, last Thursday at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field.
It had only been their third win after seven games, which was only enough to put them in fifth place after the first round of games. It has been a rocky first round for the boys in blue, after they lost all their games against the teams currently occupying the top four. Yet by managing to win three games against the teams below them in the table, the Blue Eagles find themselves only three points behind fourth-placed UP, who have 12 in their belts.
The challenge now for the Ateneans is to produce a winning streak. It has been a “one step forward, two steps back” kind of a season for the Blue Eagles, whose victories have been followed by losses. If they are to advance to the Final Four again, the Blue Eagles simply have to piece together a season-changing winning run, as they cannot afford to lose more ground.
Speaking after the game, Ateneo coach JP Merida expressed delight that they had come up with another win. However, it may not had been convincing for him, as the team had looked sloppy at the back. “Yung team defending hindi masyadong organized kaya may lapses kami sa marking,” the tactician observed. He inferred that the team may have been too eager to get more goals to win, which may not be a bad thing for him. However, he’s not too keen to see his too many players commit on the attack.
It’s easy to see why Merida prefers to maintain an organized team defense. The Blue Eagles have the third-worst goals conceded per game, having given away 13 goals — the same as they have scored in the season. For the Ateneo coach, the offense has been ticking but it is useless if they cannot keep it together at the other end. “Sinasabi ko nga na importante talaga yung defending before we score kasi kung organized yung defending madali na lang umiskor,” he explained.
What hurts the Ateneans more is that opponents have usually scored from their mistakes. Julian Roxas, scorer of the winning goal, admits that the Blue Eagles have been disappointing so far this season. For him, a huge reason for it has been their apparent inability to compose themselves on games. “We haven’t been really prepared mentally as a team to give that one big fight. We’ve been having a lot of errors that lead to goals, [mostly] cheap goals,” Roxas recounted.
Having helped his team claim what he brands a confidence-boosting win, last year’s best rookie hopes that they can weather the storm and mount a deep run into the post-season once more. “We just have to build on this one. Do what we did well in this game and prepare better,” Roxas added after the 2-1 win over UE.
For then them to do that, everyone will have to play their part and Roxas is no exception. As a central midfielder, Roxas is an important part of how Ateneo plays on both ends and in his position, there is little room for error. Aware of the challenge ahead of him, the sophomore midfielder believes he is capable of playing better than how he had done last season.
Roxas and the Blue Eagles will return to action on Thursday afternoon, as they battle the University of the East Red Warriors at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field. Having won against UE just recently, the Ateneans are hoping for the same result in two days time. Should they emerge victorious, the Blue Eagles will be back in fourth place, with the possibility of getting tangled in a three-way tie. If they do so, Ateneo may just find the perfect time to pick the pace up and see where it will take them — perhaps all the way back to the top.
