Born to wear the green and white, James Matthew Dinglasan has always carried the pride of a true Lasallian.
On Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, he proved it on the pitch — scoring twice to lead De La Salle Zobel to a crucial 4-1 victory over Claret School of Quezon City in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament.
The 16-year-old midfielder wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring just two minutes into the match.
He then secured his brace in the 42nd minute, helping the Junior Green Booters recover from a disappointing 3-0 shutout loss to the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws on February 1.
Despite his standout performance, Dinglasan was quick to credit his teammates for the victory.
“It’s very shocking for me to score a brace and that really is an achievement for me,” he said.
“I do not just score for myself but for the team as well, and it’s really not just my achievement but the team’s achievement.”
He went on, “All the hard work we’ve done, all the training, all the times we woke up early — it’s really an achievement for my team, as well as for the fans, our supporters, our families, especially our parents and coaches.”
Dinglasan’s passion for the green-and-white jersey runs deep. Having studied at La Salle Green Hills and the DLSU Integrated School before enrolling at DLSZ, he has long been immersed in the Lasallian football culture.
He also draws inspiration from former schoolmate and current Green Booter defender Rain Del Rosario, admiring his leadership both on and off the pitch.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“I grew up like him as a senior back in my old school in Calamba, and I look up to him for his passion for football, how he really talks to his team, and how he commands them,” he shared.
“One piece of advice that Kuya Rain gave me was to keep working harder. We both went to De La Salle University in Laguna, then I transferred to LSGH, and now I’m here at DLSZ. I really started out in La Salle, and I’m born to bleed green and white. I am really a Lasallian.”
Now in Grade 11 under the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand, Dinglasan has been playing football since his early childhood, starting from kindergarten to first grade.
The sport became more than just a hobby — it turned into his escape from academic stress and a passion he could wholeheartedly pursue.
Beyond the competition, football also introduced him to lifelong friendships and a deep sense of camaraderie.
“I think it’s my own passion because I grew up doing triathlon,” he said. “A lot of my family members didn’t really play sports, and I was the only one interested.
“Transitioning from triathlon to football has been fun, especially since I got to meet more people and experience a different kind of bond that you can never get anywhere else. The connection you have with your teammates — it’s unlike any other. It’s a bond you can never break.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
La Salle has yet to win the championship since the event was first introduced as a demonstration sport back in Season 70.
The Junior Archers’ last finals appearance in Season 85 ended in heartbreak, as they fell 2-1 to FEU-D in extra time — extending their long wait for a title.
For Dinglasan, the mission this season is clear: to finally bring home the championship.
More than just making history, he and his teammates aim to deliver a title for those who have supported them every step of the way.
“I feel like my goal is to really make my family proud, as well as our coaches and those who continue to support us,” he said. “It’s my dream to make the supporters feel the joy of seeing us succeed.”
“With the constant support from our parents, fans, and the school, our goal is to win the UAAP — not just for ourselves, but for our families, our school, and our coaches. That’s what drives us every day.”
