COMING OFF a finals appearance is not typically a signal for a team to go back to the drawing board, but the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) boldly entered Season 79 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) with fresh faces and a style of football that took the competition by storm.
In response to the departure of key players, the Blue Eagles shed the rigid back four to sport the more fluid 3-5-2 shape and supercharged their eleven on the pitch by regularly fielding six rookies. These adjustments inspired the Blue and White to win 11 out of 14 elimination round matches and claim the crown after silencing the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 1-0.
When the dust settled, AJ Arcilla, Jayrah Rocha, Jordan Jarvis, Enzo Ceniza, Julian Roxas, and Jarvey Gayoso all featured in the Season 79 Mythical XI. Arcilla won the Best Goalkeeper award, Rocha earned the Best Defender title, Jarvis snatched Rookie of the Year honors, and Gayoso took home the Best Striker award and the Most Valuable Player trophy.
Missing only Jarvis on their roster this year, the Blue Eagles enter Season 80 boasting some of the best collegiate players in the country, backed by a young squad bred in a championship culture.
Season-defining storylines
The AMFT’s title quest kicked off months before the first whistle. Two of their preseason tournaments, Ang Liga and the Asian University Football Tournament (AUFT), offer a glimpse into the state last season’s champions are in. The Blue Eagles used these opportunities for quality game-time to build up match fitness, experiment with the lineup, and make strides towards rediscovering their rich vein of form.
Ateneo’s Ang Liga campaign kicked off to a concerning start. A tight win over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) preceded back-to-back defeats to National University (NU) and San Beda University (SBU).
A comeback victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) lifted spirits, but a loss to the University of the Philippines (UP) showed that consistency still eluded them. However, demolitions of Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD), and the University of the East (UE) suggested that Ateneo was finding its groove again.
The AUFT posed a different challenge altogether for the Blue Eagles. Ateneo participated as the Philippines’ representative, while the rest of the pool included other champion universities from some of the top footballing nations in Asia. After a trio of humbling losses at the hands of Japan B, Korea B, and Iran, they dug in to produce a 1-1 draw against Taiwan to end on a positive note.
Ateneo’s preseason results may show a concerning pattern of inconsistency, but the final score is hardly the priority this early on. For the Blue Eagles, their more encouraging performances in the months leading up to Season 80 offered glimpses of championship form. On the other hand, opponents can look at Ateneo’s weaknesses as a minefield that can blow up if exploited in the right areas, which means the Blue Eagles must grow into their strengths and repair the chinks in their armor on the battlefield.
Coping with a high press
Despite boasting arguably the best midfield in the league and technically sound players in every position, preseason form proved that the Blue Eagles can succumb to the gauntlet of a high press. Under pressure on multiple fronts, the midfield and defense are forced into limited options to play their way out, thus increasing their likelihood to choke the ball up.
This weakness was exposed in their Ang Liga losses to SBU and UP, where both teams tucked their wide players in and flooded the Ateneo midfield. Outnumbering the Blue Eagles in the middle, they were able to create chances on the edge of the box and around Ateneo’s central defenders. Incidentally, both matchups ended in convincing wins for the opposition.
Fortunately, internal solutions are available. Coach Jaypee Merida’s usual 3-5-2 formation naturally lends them towards a more possession-based style because of the numbers they throw in midfield. The wing-backs, when in the right positions, offer an outlet on the flanks when opponents press high, through which Ateneo can enjoy some breathing space.
If the Blue Eagles can hammer out the tactical nuances, their ability on the ball will see them through heavy pressure and even develop into a counter-attacking force. If they falter and fold, the squad will have to grind out every point this season.
Logjam on the wings
Given the importance of Ateneo’s wide players in their favored formation, the Blue Eagles on the flanks face a stern test. Fortunately, a wealth of options in this area promises the necessary depth and talent to endure the demands of the season.
Carlitos Mathay and Mike Castillo are Merida’s trusted soldiers in this position, and the duo have displayed the diligence and stamina to excel in their roles. Should the game call for a more defensive set up, Merida can call upon rookies Joaquin Roque and Jose Poe to flank the backline. If Ateneo decides to turn up the heat, Sam Lim, Mark Nacional, and Paolo Alilam all have the pace to provide width and dovetail with their strike partners.
Game management must be at the forefront of Merida’s mind in every matchup, and he will have to find the right balance of attacking impetus and defensive nous to ensure that his XI are always in control.
Finding the right attacking mix
The Blue Eagles were an offensive juggernaut last season, netting 33 goals in just 14 elimination round matches played, 11 more than any other team in the league. The early signs, however, were far from encouraging. Ateneo’s preseason losses against NU, SBU, and UP all narrated woeful finishing, botched passing exchanges, and the team’s failure to register a goal, indicating that the key to success against the reigning champions is to thwart their attacking flow.
In Gayoso, Sam Lim, Alilam, and Jimi Haosen, the Blue Eagles have quick players capable of drifting out to wider areas and darting into scoring positions. On the other hand, Will Grierson and Rupert Baña tend to make more vertical runs into the box and use their frames to challenge defenders with physicality.
This variety introduces an element of unpredictability for the defense to consider, but without it, attacking patterns become too predictable to cause any real danger. If the Blue Eagles can get their strikers firing and playing off each other’s strengths, they will be a joy to watch fly down the pitch.
Last year’s trophy reminds the squad of the heights they are capable of reaching, but its shine has also placed a target on their back. Even with the rest of the league coming at them for the crown, the Blue Eagles have the pieces and the experience to reach the summit of collegiate football again—as long as they remember that even champions are not finished products.
