DESPITE THE uncertainty of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 83 pushing through, several Blue Eagles have shown their unwavering commitment to Ateneo by choosing to stay for their final season of eligibility. Among them are super seniors AJ Arcilla, Kiko Andaya, and Julian Dayrit who persevere in their pursuit of finishing what they started as they take on the chance to capture the crown one last time.

AJ Arcilla: Home away from home

Often seen leading the charge from the six-yard box, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team’s (AMFT) AJ Arcilla has proven to be a key player on the pitch. Hailing from Orange County, California, Arcilla’s talent shone through in his first three UAAP seasons, bagging two Best Goalkeeper awards and two championships in Seasons 79 and 81. However, Arcilla’s senior year was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic since the goalkeeper decided to fly back to the United States to be with his family.

Though thousands of miles away, Arcilla yearned to fulfill his intent to play out his five-year eligibility. “I couldn’t [imagine] graduat[ing] in four years [just to] look back and think, what if I played my fifth year? Like there’s this hunger to play. The hunger to play just drove me to continue to accept that I’m going to play my fifth year,” he shared. 

Apart from staying true to his sought-after plans, the AMFT captain asserted his desire to look after his second family. To him, the brotherhood of the AMFT has been his source of strength all these years, and it is now his job to guide his teammates and give back to his home away from home. “This team has been what has kept me strong. They’re my brothers, my wolfpack,” shared the goalkeeper.

Turning his hands to the captaincy, Arcilla hopes to put the squad’s dream of clinching gold into fruition by keeping them grounded and hungry for success. “It’s me pushing the team, whether it’s mentally or physically, on or off the field, working hard to achieve our goal,” the AMFT captain shared. Fueled by his goal to defend the crown, Arcilla is ready to protect the goal up until the final whistle. 

Kiko Andaya: Homage to the Blue and White

Having donned the Blue and White for the last 14 years, Kiko Andaya has shown his loyalty to both baseball and Ateneo. Through his consistent hits and home runs, the team captain’s stint with the Blue Eagles consisted of notable contributions to the team’s podium finishes from Seasons 79 to 81.

Prior to the cancellation of Season 82, Andaya was set on closing his brilliant career on the field. The second baseman intended on graduating on time with the rest of his batchmates to take advantage of career opportunities as a data engineer. 

However, after a two-month hiatus from baseball during the quarantine, Andaya decided to push for a fifth year. The team captain realized that he could take up a master’s degree, work full-time, and play out his fifth year if he managed his time wisely. “Though I was [initially] at peace with ending my baseball career, I cannot deny the fact that I love playing the sport. So now, the current situation has given me the opportunity to work and play at the same time,” Andaya shared.

Now the captain of the Ateneo Baseball Team, Andaya hopes to imbue in his teammates the same accountability and responsibility he hones. With the team’s bronze and silver finishes in the past two seasons, Andaya believes that better preparation and a better mindset will push the team over the hump. “What keeps me really hungry is that we were close. If we prepared better, trained harder, we could’ve been champions. We came up short, but on paper we’re the best, so why did we lose? Right now, we got to go full speed and work for it,” the team captain shared. 

Spending more than a decade on the ballpark, Andaya’s final season is an ode to Ateneo and the beloved sport that shaped him. “I am the man I am now because of Ateneo Baseball. To be able to [play] one more year and represent the school that has molded me into who I am now, it’s a great and crazy feeling, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. With his priorities intact and his sights set for gold, Andaya is ready to bring back the crown to Loyola Heights.

Julian Dayrit: The romp up

Over the years, Julian Dayrit has proven to be a court advantage for the Ateneo Men’s Lawn Tennis Team (AMLTT) with his powerful backhands, drives, and tactical play. Throughout his UAAP career, Dayrit has garnered numerous accolades. Aside from bagging two silver medals, Dayrit was also named Rookie of the Year in Season 79 and ended Season 81 with an impressive 9-3 win-loss slate. Hungry to capture the elusive gold, Dayrit had committed to playing out his fifth year.

In August, after spending months away from tennis, Dayrit received news from AMLTT Coach PJ Tierro that there was a possibility that competitive tennis would return sooner rather than later. “[Coach PJ Tierro] told me there was a high chance of [tennis] pushing through because it was allowed during the lockdown, as it’s a sport with social distance,” the team captain shared. Dayrit felt a rush of elation, aiming to push the team harder in training and boosting their morale amid the uncertainty.

With hopes of rising up from their back-to-back runner-up finishes, Dayrit and his team have been consistently training online and playing tennis in their own respective courts. Though limited to seeing his teammates through a screen, Dayrit continues to garner inspiration from them. “We’re all so tired, but I still see everyone pushing [and] giving their all. Even if we can only see each other through our laptops, I really see the grit and determination of my teammates. That keeps me motivated,” he said. 

In his final year in the UAAP, Dayrit is dedicating his last season to the coaches who have meticulously molded him into the player he is today and to the school that has given him the chance to master his craft. “It’s about giving one last push of my 100% effort to really just give my all and try winning the championship,” he shared. Charged by tenacity, Dayrit is ready to take the hardcourt head on this Season 83.

A bittersweet departure 

Though the world of collegiate sports may have stopped for the time being, these stellar athletes persist in their yearning for gold. With the various takeaways gained from past seasons, captains Arcilla, Andaya, and Dayrit are ready to board on their final flight for the Blue and White.