With this year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Football Tournament at its midway point, this weekly series will track the performance of the current Ateneo Blue Eagles as they race to the Final Four.

WITH LOFTY expectations heading into Season 88, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) has endured a rocky start, with a series of mixed results that led the Katipunan-based squad in third place.

The Blue and White began with a big 3-0 win against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, with a brace from returning forward Kofi Agyei being the game’s biggest highlight. Inconsistency has hampered the ability of the Blue Eagles to build momentum, losing to the University of the East Red Warriors a week later, but then returning to winning ways against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Booters in their next game.

Despite the win, the Blue and White drew against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Booters, and later on fell to the first-place University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. They then grounded out a 1-1 draw against defending champions Far Eastern University last October 16, ending their first half of the season in pedestrian form.

With the UAAP football landscape being much more competitive, the Katipunan-based squad is determined to shift into a higher gear as they journey back into the collegiate football summit.

Constant threat

Ani: Although the Blue Eagles’ 2-2-2 record is far from what they expected heading into this season, the team’s offensive firepower has been nothing short of formidable. Tallying a total of 12 markers in seven games, Ateneo currently leads the league in goals—a testament to their clinical finishing in the final third.

At the heart of the offensive surge is Team Captain and national team stalwart Dov Cariño, whose influence on the pitch goes beyond just the stat sheets. Whether through creating chances for himself or for his teammates, Cariño has been a constant threat and sparkplug behind the unit’s attacking rhythm.

In their first matchup, the young skipper secured one goal and one assist, taking home the Man of the Match honors en route to a dominant 3-0 victory against the Soaring Falcons. Since that resounding performance, Cariño has achieved two more Man of the Match Honors in addition to three goals, as he continues to lead the team on and off the pitch.

Alongside Cariño, Ghanaian foreign student athlete Kofi Agyei has also paved the way for the Blue Eagles’ offensive capabilities midway into the season. Marking his return to UAAP action for the first time since Season 86, Agyei has quickly reminded both opponents and the Ateneo faithful of his ability to convert chances, emerging as the tip of the spear in Ateneo’s charge.

In just six games, the 6’5″ striker has already converted five goals and one assist, showcasing his ability and composure in front of goal. Against AdU and UST, Agyei’s skills were on full display, as the target man netted a brace in both matches, each resulting in victories for the Blue and White.

Still, the Blue Eagles are not quite where they want to be. Through six matches last season, the team stood at 6-0 with 18 goals scored and a +12 goal differential, dominating each contest. Although the team may not be replicating last season’s perfect start, there have been flashes of brilliance that hint at the form and performances that once made them unstoppable.

Heading into the second half of the season, it is clear that Ateneo’s offensive firepower is an undeviating presence. In order to secure results and fight for a trophy, however, the team must build on their consistency and composure not just on the attack, but also on the defensive end of the field if they want to avenge their runner-up finish from last year.

Bent, but not broken

Ino: Despite the offensive pedigree Ateneo has maintained this season, the other end of the pitch lacks fortified defense. It may be important to score more goals than the opponent, but having a solid foundation at the back provides teams with the insurance and security to close out games effectively.

Heading into the season, the graduation of defensive stalwarts Artuz Cezar and Jet Dela Cruz has left big holes to fill for the Blue and White. At this point in the season, their absence has been significantly felt, with the team having recorded only one clean sheet and conceding 10 goals in six games.

The goalkeeping situation has been fair, with Alfonso Loja, a capable successor to Season 87 Best Goalkeeper Cezar, earning Man of the Match honors for his shot-stopping prowess against the Golden Booters. The problem, however, lies in communication between the goalkeeper and defenders, resulting in multiple goals conceded due to communication errors.

Specifically, quite a few goals have been conceded from dead-ball situations, with a lack of communication amid the chaotic nature of free kicks and corners leading to costly errors, as seen in their games against DLSU and UP.

Despite the struggles in defense, there are still promising signs in young center back Mateo Lacson. In his first season starting in the heart of defense, Lacson showcased composure beyond his years and ball-playing ability, giving fans hope that he can anchor the defense in the future. Furthermore, holdovers Marco Salud and Javier Bengson have maintained their consistency at the back, further providing the Blue and White with a solid foundation to build upon.

We have seen the effects elite defenses can have on team success, as the capability of smothering opponents provides teams with an opportunity to get effective results. This season, it is undeniable that this Ateneo defense has so much potential, and as long as they are able to work out its kinks, the UAAP pennant is theirs for the taking.

Blood drawn

Ani: Beyond just defensive lapses, the Blue Eagles have also been riddled with injuries, a factor that has made it difficult for the team to find form in this rigorous Season 88 campaign.

Before the season even began, Co-Captain Andy Roxas suffered a heartbreaking, season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear, which ruled him out of what would have been his final year with the team. As a key veteran and long-time mainstay of the Blue Eagles, Roxas’s represents injury represents more than just a tactical loss with his injuryvoid, as the team has lost out on a leader who has provided stability and guidance on both ends of the pitch.

To make matters worse, in just their second game against the UE Red Warriors, the unit suffered yet another setback after fellow Co-Captain and national team standout Jethro Flores suffered an injury in the 31st minute, being stretchered off after a tough collision.

As one of Ateneo’s most seasoned veterans, Flores provided important leadership and composure in the middle of the pitch, qualities that the Blue Eagles have heavily missed in his absence. Without the midfielder’s ability to dictate tempo and rally the team, Ateneo has struggled at times to control possession, forcing other players to step up and adjust to larger roles within the squad.

On top of losing two co-captains, the Blue Eagles have also missed the production of midfielder Marcus Arias and standout rookie Andrei Gonzales.

After suffering a 60th-minute non-contact injury against the DLSU Green Booters, Arias was forced off the pitch, leaving a noticeable gap in Ateneo’s rotation. Gonzales, on the other hand, played impressively throughout the preseason, often creating chances for the Blue Eagles during the Tuloy Invitational Cup. As the team awaits the completion of his eligibility documents, the young midfielder has yet to make his UAAP debut for the Blue and White.

As a result, the coaching staff has had to adapt time and time again, leading to lineup adjustments that have hampered the team’s ability to develop and perform consistently. With each game passing, it is becoming clearer than ever that these injuries have quickly taken their toll, as the Blue Eagles have looked continually worn out in the face of all these setbacks.

However, one thing is clear—this team, despite all of the injuries, has continued to fight, showing passion and grit on every possession. If there is one certainty that can be guaranteed about this Blue Eagle squad, it is that no matter what challenges await them this season, they remain undeterred as they battle to reclaim their form that has long defined Ateneo football.

This week’s games:

Sunday, October 26, 4:00 PM vs Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City