Ateneo Blue Booters build on their legacy

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo defeated La Salle, 2-1, for the UAAP Season 81 men’s football championship. It is Ateneo’s eighth UAAP football crown, the most since the sport became a part of league’s calendar three decades ago. They break a tie with UP, which has seven UAAP crowns. 

The title-winning goal in extra time, by Julian Roxas — and outside the penalty shoot-outs — is probably the most dramatic championship-winning goal since Simon Lao scored in the dying moments of the title game against La Salle one day before World War II began. 

The 2019 title gives Ateneo a total of 14 men’s football championships. Eight in the UAAP and six in the NCAA. The first ever NCAA men’s football title was won by Ateneo with the last coming in 1968 behind Celso Lobregat, Arben Santos, and Bobong Velez.

And speaking of breaking ties, this is Ateneo’s third win in five UAAP men’s football finals meetings with La Salle. The Blue Booters won in 1996, lost in 1997 and 1998, won in 2006, and won in this 2019 title game. 

Incidentally, Ateneo head coach Jaypee Merida won three titles as a player from 2004-06 and now three as head coach (2013, 2017 and 2019). Previously, his uncle, Ompong Merida, won four (1999, 2004-06). 

When the Blue Booters won in 1996, that was the team that first came under the late Chris Monfort when the Ateneo Football School was establish in the mid-1980s. 

Three of the prominent players of that Ateneo team that won in 1996 are still with football. Rely San Agustin is co-UAAP commissioner and still plays semi-professionally. Domeka Garamendi is with FIFA. While Vince Santos was a part of the Ateneo three-peat teams that were coached by Ompong Merida and later guided the program of FEU that netted them a bunch of juniors and seniors titles in the UAAP.

You also have to feel for La Salle regardless of school colors. In the NCAA, they were the kings along with Mapua. Ateneo would win once in a while. In the UAAP, had a wondrous three-years going to the UAAP Finals in 1996-98; winning two. And when they last won, Alvin Ocampo, their current head coach, was still playing. 

I can only imagine what was going on inside Ocampo’s mind as the game slipped away. His father, the late Ed Ocampo, played for Ateneo and won football and basketball titles for the blue and white. In fact, he was named, “Mr. Football” by Filipino sportswriters. 

Alvin was a sound footballer and is a good coach. His nephew, Jarvey Gayoso, is the son of former Ateneo player, Jay Gayoso, who has led the blue and white to two seniors crowns (after being denied by FEU in the juniors division). And he has one more year to play.

In the UAAP, La Salle has had their moments, but for a while UST was king along with UP. But since that 1996 title, Ateneo has done extremely well.