Capitulating from the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Football Tournament, these midseason takeaways evaluate the current iteration of the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) as they hope to solidify their comeback in the season standings in the second round.
EMBARKING ON on their Season 87 campaign with the aim of ascending to the podium, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have encountered mixed results so far, currently sitting at fourth place at the halfway mark of the tournament. Closing the first round with a 1-0-3 win-draw-loss record, the AWFT are in the heats of sustaining momentum to further extend their UAAP campaign.
Despite Ateneo mirroring their previous season ranking of fourth place, it can be mostly attributed to unfortunate scenarios, with a last-minute goal from the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and a penalty from the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Booters handing the team heartbreaking 0-1 losses.
After a thrilling 1-0 over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Booters, which also secured the Blue and White’s first goal for the season, the Loyola Heights-based squad intends to solidify their form into the second round of fixtures.
Battling the odds
Gabrielle: As they kickstarted the season eager for success, the AWFT embraced their status as underdogs to defy all odds in their journey back to the UAAP summit. Fueled by their preseason undertakings, Ateneo flaunted their reloaded weaponry to re-establish glory in the tournament.
The Blue Eagles shared pivotal moments in the first round despite the underwhelming 1-0-3 record. From heroic saves to thrilling close-range attempts in added time, the AWFT stunned their rivals with their polished defense and collective synergy this season. In particular, Angely Alferez netting the lone goal for the AWFT so far has proven decisive in the team’s determined underdog journey.
Additionally, the squad’s season debut with Chrisia Espiritu’s nail-biting crossbar hit also left viewers stunned and at the edge of their seats in the Katipunan derby. Despite ultimately yielding to the Fighting Maroons in added time, 0-1, Ateneo established their revitalized defensive tactics and increased scoring opportunities against their Katipunan counterparts.
Alongside Espiritu’s strenuous efforts, veteran goalkeeper Chelssy Casals braved the high press offenses of the defending champions Far Eastern University, bolstering the Blue Eagles’ defensive synergy. Donning the tenacity of the Blue and White’s territory, Casals has significantly limited scoring opportunities for the opposition—further highlighting her pivotal role in their showdown against the top-seeded Lady Tamaraws.
Later in the first round, a grueling match between the AWFT and UST found both teams battling for their first goals of the season. Keeping their headstrong demeanor despite the consecutive heartbreaks, veteran forward Alferez mounted the Blue Eagles’ comeback to the season standings with her heroics in the first half of the match against the Lady Booters.
The impressive offensive execution of the AWFT ultimately handed them the dominant route against the España-based unit, clinching their first victory of the season, 1-0.
Each of these defining moments displayed the team’s resilience, athletic prowess, and in-field harmony. Aiming to recalibrate a hopeful turnaround in the second round of UAAP Season 87, the Blue and White should maintain this relentless drive in their pursuit of excellence.
Grit and grind
Ino: Last season, the AWFT ended their campaign with 34 goals conceded. As of writing, the Blue and White displayed massive improvement on this aspect, only conceding five.
Despite being tied for third with UST in the category, the performances justify the improvement in that department, as the Katipunan-based unit showed a level of cohesion that makes them one of the harder teams to break down in the UAAP.
Tactically, Head Coach Bob Manlulo has set up his team to become compact and disciplined defensively in order to be hard to break down, as seen in their bout against the possession-hungry DLSU. Despite their rivals holding the ball for long periods of time, the Blue Eagles’ approach constantly kept them at bay.
The base of a stingy defense always starts in goal, and Casals has been one of the key players for the team so far. The veteran has become a steady presence for Ateneo, making crucial saves and sweeping any loose ball that comes into the box.
The backline, marshaled by Team Co-Captain Soleil Schroth, has also served as a dependable first layer of defense capable of impeding opposing attacks. Veteran center-back Patty Francisco has stood out the most, showing her imposing presence with assertive clearances and timely tackles to avert any potentially dangerous opposition attack.
Meanwhile, Raya Tolentino has performed well as the other center-back, with her composure perfectly complementing Francisco’s more combative approach. Additionally, rookie Joshper Halili has taken the UAAP like a duck to water, becoming a key contributor on defense as one of the full-backs. Their current form only bodes well for the team now and in the future, as both Tolentino and Halili are set to become central pieces of the Atenean defense.
Following this, the combination of youth and experience in this group of Blue Eagles sets a good foundation for the Loyola Heights-based squad to build on heading into the second round. As long as the defense holds up, the Blue and White will always have a stable platform for positive opportunities.
Passing the torch
Ani: Despite failing to achieve a positive record midway through the season, the Blue Eagles have continued to build upon their recent growth over the past few seasons. Last season, the team bagged a pivotal victory—their first win in five years since their success in defeating UP all the way back in 2019.
With the team continuing to capitalize on these improvements, there was plenty of excitement at the beginning of the campaign. The team began to relieve long-time concerns, which included previously being plagued with injuries and suffering from a lack of experience.
These struggles of old have only led to improvements within the team’s performance as they have shown glimpses of upswings in their game, beginning to regularly create chances and strike fear into their opponent’s hearts every match.
Among those leading the offensive charge for the team is standout rookie Jada Bicierro, who has quickly become a constant threat for the team—creating multiple chances through both counter-attacking offense and creative runs to get into scoring positions.
After leading the team in assists, Alferez has also continued to spearhead the team in offensive actions. Whether it’s through athletic offensive actions or well-timed passes from teammates, Alferez has consistently found herself in the right spot at taking chances and threatening opponents. Her offensive prowess and relentless pressure was eventually rewarded in the team’s fourth game of the season, as the midfielder generated the team’s first goal en route to their campaign’s first win.
Picking up where she left off, Tootchie Eval has continued to also create attacking threats after leading the team in goals last season. A versatile player, Eval not only contributes to a menacing attack, but also bolsters a solidified midfield that has improved defensively through quick, timely passes to maintain possession.
Although results have not necessarily shown that the team has had drastic improvements, these new faces—in combination with solid veterans on the team—have continued to change the narrative and prove naysayers wrong. With plenty of games left and opportunities to prove themselves, the Blue Eagles have a reignited fire that cannot be denied.
Upcoming games:
Saturday, November 9, at 6:30 PM, vs. UP Fighting Maroons at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City
Saturday, November 16, at 6:30 PM, vs. UST Lady Booters at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 9 (+6)
- DLSU Lady Booters – 9 (+5)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 3 (-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 3 (-4)
- UST Lady Booters – 0 (-4)
