UAAP Football midseason report: Maroons lead the way

Daniel Gadia (far right). Image copyright Bob Guerrero.

The leading university football league in the country is at its midpoint. Here are my team-by-team thoughts on a thrilling first round of Season 77.

The UP Fighting Maroons are UAAP football’s San Antonio Spurs. Year-in, year out UP is at or near the summit of the table. At the moment they have no equal, with sixteen points from seven games.

The Maroons have allowed all of three goals in their first seven games. At least one, in the loss to Ateneo, was a penalty. So that’s two goals in open play in over 630 minutes.

This defensive performance, anchored by Feb Baya and Ian Clarino in the center, calls to mind the epic performance of UP’s 2011 squad, which featured Miguel Roy, Allan Serna, Deo Segunial and Boi Boi Fernandez in an impenetrable burgundy wall that meant keepers Ty Caballes and Stephen Custodio fished the ball out of their net exactly once all season long. (Segunial isn’t sure which goalie let in a shot from UE in the last game of the second round. He thinks it’s Caballes.)

UP’s Gregg Popovich is Anto Gonzales, who is gunning for his fourth UAAP title and trying to reach the finals for the fifth time in a row.

Gonzales, a former Azkal who played under Michael Weiss as recently as 2012, is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top young coaches. He mixes a strict fitness regime with tactical nous and a deft touch when it comes to man-management.

“I want them (my players) to respect me not because I shout at them but because I help them.” he once told me during a break in our Suzuki Cup coverage.

Gonzales is his own recruiting tool, and he has used that to build a formidable team for Season 77.

Last Thursday they vanquished FEU 3-1 in a clash of the titans, with the irrepressible Jinggoy Valmayor bagging a hat trick. Key to the victory was central mid Daniel Gadia, a workhorse in the central of the pitch who already has U19 and U21 national team experience. He lobbed an assist to Valmayor in at least one of the goals.

UP still has plenty of games to go before the final four in March. But right now it’s tough to bet against them.

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The barbarians are at the gate for champs FEU. Far Eastern went down to ten men in the first half thanks to a rash foul by Reimart Cubon on Valmayor as the UP striker streaked towards goal in their match last Thursday. The referee correctly sent Cubon packing for the Denial of Obvios Goal Scoring Opportunity infraction since Valmayor was in open water.

It’s been that kind of year for FEU. At times they have looked dominant, with their fluid passing game flummoxing opponents in many games. But their defense has been far from airtight as they have leaked in twelve goals, fifth in the league.

Audie Menzi of FEU battles with Valmayor. Image copyright Bob Guerrero.

Kim Chul Su, the Tams’ coach, has placed Michael Menzi, last year’s undersized but skilled keeper, into the midfield and given Arjay Joyel, who was a central defender last year, the task of manning the pipes.

Joyel has been spotty, although on Thursday he did make some very fine forays out of his area to snare loose balls and had at least one legit save on. Kim seems to want Joyel’s size in goal. But the trade-off is the lack of experience in the position that Menzi would have brought.

The loss of Chy Villaseñor to academic issues is also a problem. Villaseñor is a holding midfielder who was great at tidying up in front of the back four. But FEU’s loss is Manila Jeepney’s gain. Unencumbered by UAAP regulations that forbid active players from playing in other competitions, Villaseñor will play for the beep-beep crew once the UFL starts in February. Kim happens to coach that team as well.

Far Eastern also suffered another blow when midfield maestro Paolo Bugas suffered a torn meniscus in his knee against UP and will need surgery. Tough to speculate but it seems very possible he is lost for the season.

The loss of Bugas, the only UAAP 77 player with a full senior Azkals cap, hurts not just FEU but might also affect the national U22 side that plays Korea DPR, Cambodia, and Thailand in Olympic qualifying in late March. His creativity and skill will be needed then.

FEU can take solace in one fact, though: a new format means there will be just one match in the semis and a one-game final. Seedings matter less than last year, when the top two enjoyed twice-to-beat. As long as the Tams reach the final four, their championship experience could carry the day.

DLSU could end a title drought this season. The Green Archers haven’t won a men’s seniors title since 1998. This year’s veteran side could change that.

Nathan Alquiros has been a star from the wing, and Gelo Diamante has found the back of the net. Wingback Gerald Layumas has been terrific with four goals, and Jojo Borromeo, a superb player on the ball, has been a force in the midfield along with Gio Diamante.

Hans Smit has depth too coming off the bench:. Yoshiharu Koizumi has excellent passing vision and touch, Chuckie Uy is an impact sub who positions himself well in dangerous areas, and Sabin Bustamante is a midfield Energizer bunny.

Nathan Alquiros. Image copyright Bob Guerrero.

La Salle also has the best keeper in the league in Paeng De Guzman. I rate him a shade bit more than UP’s Ace Villanueva, whose defense insulates him a bit more.

One dark cloud on the horizon for Taft: Gelo Diamante hurt his shoulder against UST. They need him to get well quick. Everyone hopes it’s not a separated shoulder.

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UST is a case of “what might have been.” The Tigers are sixth in the table on six points. A disappointment for a side that was in the top four last year and was touted two seasons ago as a team on the rise.

But academic issues meant seven veterans had to sit out, five of which were defensive players. The biggest loss: Ronald Batisla-ong, a central defender with international and UFL experience. Fortunately he says he will return in Season 78.

UST’s rookie defenders are callow and have a basic flaw that is sadly all too common among Pinoy players: a lack of communication and information sharing, especially between them and goalie John Catalino.

But the Tigers showed grit in equalizing while a man down against La Salle last Thursday before falling to a late game-winer from rookie Christian Zubiri. They might still upset a few teams in round one.

Steven Anotado, with a half-dozen goals, has been a real bright spot for UST.

Ateneo’s young squad is a threat to do something special: first to worst to first. The Season 75 champs were stung by a rash of injuries and player ineligibility enroute to a last-place finish in 2014. With fourteen rookies they are back in the thick of the action this season. Mikko Mabanag continues to develop and has assisted on an astonishing five goals this season. Julian Roxas, son of Agila’s Monty and nephew of former national team player Randy Roxas, has been a rookie revelation with three goals.

Could Jay-pee Merida’s fresh-faced team challenge their neighbors from across Katipunan? They are the only team to beat UP thus far.

National U are a legit final four contender. The Bulldogs have assembled a tall squad that just might crash the final four party. They have a tendency to lose the midfield at times but have done enough for fifth place, level with FEU on thirteen points, four off the Tams on goal difference.

Paolo Salenga, their marquee striker, has all the physical tools to shine, and has a terrific attitude. He only needs to curb his occasional tendency to hang on to the ball a wee but too long.

I really like Arnel Casil, the Bulldogs tough-as-nails sweeper, and right back Darwin Regala, who has speed and a velcro-like first touch.

The Bulldogs should make this window of opportunity count: Salenga, a transferee from Arellano, is playing his last season in the UAAP.

Adamson are still a feel-good story. The Falcons may be winless and point-less after the first round, but there is still plenty of reason to be upbeat.

Their coach Nolan Manito tells me the players, almost all freshmen, understand that it will be a challenging season, so morale hopefully is still high.

Adamson have been walloped by FEU 9-1 and were taken to the woodshed 6-0 by UP but in many other games they have hung very tough.

Interesting fact: ADU has scored six goals this season, second worst only to the UE Red Warriors who have five. UE scored four of their goals against Adamson in a 4-1 win.

Adamson have a decent (and very busy) young keeper in Carl Viray. Cyril Orcine has also shown glimpses of real quality.

UE’s post-Fitch Arboleda era misery continues. The Red Warriors just don’t seem to have the horses to compete in the UAAP. They are a young side and are undersized at almost every position.

The graduation of Fitch Arboleda, now with the U22 national team, has been tough on coach Ryan Marinay. Michael Tulio’s suspension for abusive behavior against a match official in a recent game will not help. Marinay will need a bumper crop of rookies to bounce back next season. As of the moment Jo Mallen, their main offensive weapon, is lacking in help.

My first-round all-UAAP starting XI:

STRIKERS: Eric Giganto (FEU) Steven Anotado (UST)

MIDFIELD: Nathan Alquiros (DLSU) Arnel Amita (FEU) Daniel Gadia (UP) Paolo Bugas (FEU)

DEFENSE: Gerald Layumas (DLSU) Arnel Casil (NU) Ian Clarino (UP) Darwin Regala (NU)

GOALKEEPER: Paeng De Guzman (DLSU)

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH. For extensive UAAP football coverage, follow @TiebreakerTimes.