NOBODY SAW this coming as this wasn’t supposed to happen perhaps for at least two more seasons. For the first time since 2008, the Ateneo Blue Booters are going to the UAAP Football Finals after overcoming their archrivals the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Booters, 4-3, via a penalty shootout in their semifinal matchup last Thursday, February 14, at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field.
Coming to the match, DLSU boasted the best second round performance highlighted by a league-best five-game winning streak that was eventually halted by defending champions University of the Philippines. The Blue Booters, meanwhile, had been playing their best brand of football in just head coach JP Merida’s second year. Both teams were also 1-1 in their two meetings this Season 75. Thus, the matchup seemed to be an even one.
But right when the opening whistle sounded, La Salle looked to dominate as they owned majority of possession throughout the match. Striker Nathan Alquiros strafed and threatened Ateneo with shots and defender Greggy Yang curved passes and free kicks to teammates lurking deep in Ateneo territory. Luckily, Ateneo’s backline composed of Miguel Tuazon, Cocoy Marcelino, Jico Noel and Enzo Bonoan held the line.
However, no one defended the fort as well as Ateneo keeper Nick O’Donnell, who saved and denied anything that DLSU got through the defense. In the first half alone, O’Donnell racked up five saves. The rookie’s strong performance added weight to the talk going around the league that he would be the next best keeper in the UAAP as DLSU’s Patrick Deytu was on his last playing year.
All season long, the team’s excellent midfield play carried the Blue Booters to victory but this time, Team Ateneo was struggling. Passes were late and they committed errors due to miscommunication. There were a few moments of brilliance from Valentino Calvo, Mikko Mabanag and Emman Paredes, but none were successful in scoring a goal.
The first half ended with both teams still scoreless.
Frederico Rabaya got close enough to score for DLSU in the 47th minute, but O’Donnell was playing too well as keeper.
Ateneo picked up the slack in the second half and returned more focused. Mabanag opened the second half with a clear shot at the goal, but Deytu was there for the save. Yang, Alquiros and company continued to threaten Ateneo’s side of the pitch, but O’Donnell and the Ateneo defense held ground.
Mabanag got close enough to draw first blood in the 88th minute, but his shot was denied. Ateneo’s best chance to score a few minutes before the final whistle when Arman Gozali went all the way through the DLSU defense, similar to his goal previous goal after bulldozing of four National University defenders, but the rookie opted to pass instead and it was eventually cleared by DLSU.
An extra period of 15 minutes of play was granted, but both teams, despite their spirited play, did not translate into goals. A second period of 15 minutes was declared, but despite battling cramps and fatigue, the score was still nil, thus the game was to be decided through penalty kicks.
Alquiros took the first shot for La Salle and sent it home. La Salle was up, 1-0. It was almost too easy for the DLSU veteran.
Ateneo skipper Yu Murayama was up first for the Blue and White, but his shot lacked power and was easily caught by Deytu.
Gregy Yang came up next for La Salle, but O’Donnell deflected the former Paref Southridge veteran’s shot. DLSU still led, 1-0.
Calvo lined up Ateneo’s next shoot. In fact, the whole team wore black bands on their left arms for Calvo’s father who passed away last weekend in a battle against cancer. Calvo’s shot flew to the left and Deytu saw it coming, but he was a little too late. Ateneo tied it at 1-all.
Gerald Layumas, however, was able to fool O’Donnell and regain the lead, 2-1, in the following penalty kick.
Mabanag responded for Ateneo and equalized the score once more at 2-all, firing a powerful shot past Deytu and straight to the La Salle goal.
The Ateneo crowd was quelled once more after Rabaya scored in his penalty kick to give DLSU the 3-2 lead. The Green Booters were doing their best to force a do-or-die match against the twice-to-beat Blue Booters.
Carlo Liay maintained his fantastic rookie performance for Ateneo as his kick went past Deytu, tying it at 3-all.
La Salle’s final kick would come from Deytu himself. It was quite an ominous scene—the top keeper of the UAAP testing O’Donnell, his unofficial heir to the title. Deytu fired a good look, but O’Donnell anticipated it and denied the shot. By this time, the Ateneans went wild. The score was still tied at 3-3 and Ateneo had the last penalty shot of the day.
There was complete silence when Jico Noel stepped up to take the final shot and Deytu was surely not going to allow two errors on his part. Miraculously, the right-footed Noel delivered a shot to his weak side and into the net. Ateneo’s finals ticket was booked.
Ateneo will wait for the winner between UP and Far Eastern University after the latter forged a second game in a 5-1 thrashing.
Game 1 of a best-of-three finals series will take place on Thursday, February 21, at the Moro Lorenzo Football field.
After this secured win, the fairytale season of Team Ateneo continues.
