After taking the inaugural preseason IPPCA championship crown to Taft Avenue, the De La Salle University Green Booters will look to use its championship formula and experience gained in the team’s bid to top the UAAP Season 75 Men’s Football Tournament.
Led by the defensive duo of goalkeeper Patrick Deyto and defender Greggy Yang, who were named the best in their respective positions in the recently concluded tilt, La Salle hopes to clamp down on their opponent’s offense with hopes of bagging the championship.
“It’s been over a year since we won a championship [2011 UniGames], and we haven’t won a championship in Manila since I got into La Salle” said an ecstatic Yang after the Green Booters’ triumph.
Much-needed experience
Pressure in the waning moments seemed like an old friend to Deyto who welcomed the extra challenge down the stretch of the game. He said, “Basically it was my experience [that made the difference] since I’m fifth year already, and during times like these I really enjoy the pressure, and I was really down to perform well. I really look forward to penalties, which was why I was kinda delaying the game.”
It was not just confidence in himself that drove Deyto. He was confident in his teammates as well. “I know my teammates kick well, and I knew that we had a chance so I was just doing everything to get us there. I was really confident that we would win” said Deyto.
Sophomore Yang looks to develop the same level of confidence that Deyto possesses. Yang explained, “It was also nerve-wracking because if anyone watched the UST game in the UAAP last year, I missed my penalty, and I haven’t taken one since then. It was a great feeling, and the hard work paid off.”
The duo showed that they possessed a champion’s heart and drive as both were instrumental in bagging the victory. “Every single time I felt cramps, I would tell myself “Come on, five more minutes,”” said Yang.
Redemption
After finishing fourth overall and failing to qualify for the finals last season, finishing with three wins, four draws and three losses, Coach Hans Smit and his squad are looking to bounce back despite the addition of nine rookies behind a defensive backbone and talented strikers who have been strengthened by the past year’s experiences.
Playing in his fifth and final UAAP year, Deyto hopes to finally win the elusive championship. After spending time with the Azkals (the Philippine National Football Team) earlier this year, he has come back better than ever and more determined to end the season on top of the heap.
“The UAAP is different and its much tougher, but we will give it our all. We really want to be champions as that has been our target for how many years so hopefully we get there,” said Deyto.
Glory awaits
Yang finds motivation in giving Deyto that championship as a graduation gift. He said, “There are other important things like keeping a clean sheet and I just wanted to help him out [in the IPPCA]. Its Deyts’ (Deyto) last year and a UAAP championship would be good.”
The Green Booters will attempt to end the championship drought which began after the 1997-98 team bagged the gold. Back then, Assistant Coach Alvin Ocampo still wore the Green-and-White uniform and La Salle came out on top of the league after trashing Ateneo in the final.
“We’ll fight just as hard as we did in the Fil-Oil IPPCA, even harder,” warned Yang.
