IN A poetic finish to their 2024–25 season, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) capped off their perfect campaign at the 2025 Jesuit Athletic Meet (JAM) with the crown.
The booters from the Ateneo de Manila University maintained their undefeated streak after taking down the Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan (XU) Crusaders in the Finals, 1-0, earlier today at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field in Quezon City.
Jethro Flores was named the Most Valuable Player for his efforts throughout JAM 2025, while Galen Fernandez was named Man of the Match for the final contest.
The Blue Eagles started off strong, with intense pressing and sharp passing putting early pressure on their Cagayan de Oro-based adversaries. The first key chance of the game fell to Team Captain and national team member Leo Maquiling, whose long-range effort went just wide.
Transitioning into a more patient style of play after the 10th minute, the AMFT’s passing continued to poke holes in the Crusader defense. While XU launched a few potentially devastating counter-attacks, the Blue Eagles found the first breakthrough of the game in the 17th minute with Fernandez converting a rebound off a blocked shot, 1-0.
Maquiling shifted into another gear as he played key roles in chances for both Jethro Flores and Joaquin Collo. Despite both shots being saved, the AMFT’s defense continued to be a brick wall to preserve their one-goal lead by the end of the half.
Moving onto the second half, the Crusaders played with renewed vigor, backed by their Head Coach Ivan Caiña. With Ateneo de Manila taking much of the possession in the first thirty minutes, Xavier University forced a couple of chances at breaking even.
However, following a yellow card in the 49th and a red card in the 54th minute, the Crusaders found themselves without Caiña to lead them on the sidelines. The Blue Eagles never looked back and took advantage of the tactician-less XU side, holding on until the final whistle to take the crown, 1-0.
Following the match, Team Captain Maquiling shared his jubilation after winning a title for the Blue and White, with the backing of the home crowd and the Blue Babble Battalion cheering the team on at their home pitch.
“Of course I’m happy to graduate as a champion for Ateneo. I’m also happy to win it here in [the Moro Lorenzo Field], and I’m just happy to win a championship for Ateneo,” Maquiling said.
In what might have been the last time Captains Maquiling and Jet Dela Cruz suited up for the Blue and White together on the pitch, these skippers and their fellow seniors can rest well knowing that they capped their careers off in victory.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Loja (GK), Arias, Cariño, Collo, Dela Cruz, Fernandez, Flores, Maquiling (C), Roxas, Salud, Santilices
XU (0): Acierto (GK), Hojas, Rubio, J.L. Cascara, J.I. Cascara, Chaves, Seriosa, Longganay, Gaite, Cosadio, Alado
