University of the Philippines will be an outsider looking in when the semifinals of the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Football Tournament kick off tomorrow.
It will mark the first time the Fighting Maroons will miss the postseason since Season 72 when they ended the campaign in sixth place.
Coach Anto Gonzales’ team had its fate sealed when it drew 2-2 against Far Eastern University to end the elimination round. UP ended the season in fifth place with 16 points—a point behind fourth-placed University of Santo Tomas—behind three wins, two defeats, and seven frustrating draws.
“(There were) a lot of draws,” lamented Fighting Maroons striker Arturo Alleje, who scored twice against the Tamaraws and ended the season as State U’s top scorer with four goals.
Before the match against FEU began, tragedy struck UP. The Fighting Maroons learned that their teammate Yoro Sangare had passed away earlier in the day due to a heart attack.
The Fighting Maroons then played their hearts out, not only to enter the Final Four but also to honor their comrade who suddenly died. Ultimately, things did not pan out the way they wanted, but it was not for a lack of effort.
“It’s our job, eh. It’s our commitment to do as much as we can. So until that final whistle, we kept on going,” said the Holistic Education & Development Center alumnus.
Goal-scoring was a problem for the Fighting Maroons all season long. UP managed to score a total of 34 and 25 goals throughout Seasons 80 and 81, respectively. This year, the team only managed to score 12 goals in as many matches.
Gone are the days when Gonzales had the likes of Kintaro Miyagi, JB Borlongan, Gerardo Valmayor, Daniel Gadia, Kyle Magdato, and even center-back Ian Clarino to score for the Fighting Maroons.
Possession and moving the ball from point A to point B were never problems for UP this season, but a lack of a killer instinct in front of goal. This is one of the things that the players who will return next year will have to charge to experience for now.
“I think we were a young team, pero we love each other and we played together pa rin. We didn’t get to be champions, but I think it was still a pleasure for all of us to play with each other,” said the Antipolo native.
Alleje was one of UP’s holdovers from the pre-pandemic era. He first represented the Fighting Maroons back in Season 81, where he helped the team secure a bronze medal.
While he is unsure of returning for Season 86, he assured his teammates and the rest of the UP community that he will contribute somehow to bring the team back to where it belongs.
“The team is always there, and our responsibility is always to the team. That’s our commitment. So after the pandemic, it was go time again,” he said.
“I’m not sure if I’ll be playing again. I think I need to start working, but I’ll be there for the team and make sure those who will still play will carry on what the UP Men’s Football team stands for.”
