After a glorious championship run in Season 79, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) entered the succeeding year with high hopes for a back-to-back title. While the bar was set high for the team going into Season 80, the Blue Eagles were unable to find the back of the net in their semi-finals match against the University of Santo Tomas (UST). During extra time, the AMFT eventually succumbed to UST, 0-1. 

The disappointment caused by the upset made the team more determined to come back stronger in Season 81. Despite the loss of veteran players like Michael Castillo, Koko Gaudiel, and Paolo Alilam, attaining victory with a new lineup became the AMFT’s main goal.

“We knew that a lot of players were not coming back. There was some sort of maturity that came with the seniors that were on the team. [Our objective was not only] to shape and push whoever’s still in the team, [but also to] guide the new players coming in with the experience we had from the past season,” voiced Season 81 Team Captain Julian Roxas.

While the mix of new talent and veteran presence proved to be a catalyst for the team’s eventual success, it took some time for the Blue Eagles to discover their form.

The AMFT started off the season on the wrong foot and found themselves at the bottom of the standings with a winless 0-1-2 record. Despite the shaky start, the team did not lose hope. With a shift in mindset and an improved team dynamic, the AMFT eventually found their groove and managed to go on an impressive 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0 scoring spree in their next three games.

After finishing the elimination round as the top seed, the Blue Eagles dispatched the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 1-0, in the semi-finals after a 70th minute Jarvey Gayoso goal. With the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers overcoming the University of the Philippines in their own semis matchup, they booked their ticket to the final showdown against the Blue Eagles. Throughout the epic Ateneo-DLSU finals match, both teams executed their defensive strategies to the tee, allowing no goals in the first 77 minutes. However, in the 78th minute, DLSU’s Mohammad Almohjili broke free inside the box and slotted home a goal to bring the Green Archers up, 1-0. 

With pressure mounting in the dying minutes of the match, Luca Alleje sliced through the defense and handed off an assist to Gayoso for the 90th minute equalizer. 

With momentum in Ateneo’s favor, the Blue Eagles upped their aggression in extra time. In the 98th minute, a free kick from the Blue Eagles forced DLSU’s goalkeeper to punch the ball out, which ultimately led to a DLSU clear. A series of short passes then found Alleje wide open in the left wing. Without any defensive pressure, Alleje executed a perfectly-placed cross to Roxas, who jumped over everybody to punch in the incredible header that sealed the title.

Celebration filled the air for the Blue and White as the AMFT captured their eighth championship. While this accomplishment is a huge feat for any team, Roxas considered the University’s ability to consistently improve its program an even greater accomplishment.

“The legacy with the last championship is that Ateneo has, and will continue to have a strong football program in the country. [AMFT had] three championships in the 2000-2010 decade and three championships in the 2010-2020 decade. To me that is the legacy I wanted to show,” he stated.