After a prolific rookie UAAP Season 85 that saw her win the Best Striker award of the Women’s Football Tournament with a total of eight goals, leading the DLSU Lady Booters to a finals return, Angelica “Lyka” Teves proved to be more than capable of taking the reins of leading the line for the Lady Booters in the foreseeable future.
The young DLSU forward looks back on a successful rookie campaign and the factors that led to her accomplishments on one of the country’s biggest stages for women’s football.
Catching on quickly
With no choice but to wait for four years to play her rookie season, Teves claimed that it was her ability to stay even-keeled that allowed her to adjust quickly to the rigorous level of UAAP football, sharing, “Isa sa [mga] factors kaya naka-adjust ako even though I was a first-timer sa UAAP ay na-control and na-manage ko [nang] maayos ‘yung adrenaline and kaba na meron ako.”
(One of the factors for why I was able to adjust even though I was a first-timer in the UAAP was that I controlled and managed my adrenaline and nerves.)
Maintaining her composure throughout the season was a major undertaking amid the intense atmosphere of UAAP football, compounded by the pressure of playing as the three-year defending champions.
The squad faced much adversity early on after a slow start and a crucial race to clinch a spot in the finals when the elimination round was winding down. Throughout this, the Dumaguete native credited her coaches for pushing the team to continue playing with passion and to persevere even when exhaustion kicked in—especially after having limited opportunities to play during the pandemic.
A strong mindset
Despite losing two consecutive games to start their highly-anticipated return to the UAAP pitch, the rookie Teves shared that the team’s eventual success and her individual performance throughout the season were a result of a strong mindset. She explained that she did not let the tough losses get into her head, “Naging positive lang ako at may tiwala ako sa teammates and sa diskarte ng coaches namin.” Early losses were painful for the squad, but Teves accepted them with grace and believed that there was still time to turn things around. This motivation for Teves and the rest of the Lady Booters proved to be effective when the team bounced back and won four games in a row.
(I stayed positive and I believed in my teammates and our coaches’ strategy.)
Accompanied by a talented team and an award-winning skillset, Teves, with her headstrong approach, could work wonders in the seasons to come and transform Season 85 into a stepping stone for success. “May susunod pa para bawiin ‘yung nawala,” she declares.
(There are more chances to make up for what was lost.)
Only the beginning
As one of the top athletes in the UAAP, the prolific striker feels that in order to attain the highest level of success, one must be opportunistic, saying, “If may chance, i-grab niyo na kasi kapag nawala yun, baka hindi na bumalik.” She further stresses that self-belief and gratitude are crucial for an athlete to reach their full potential. While confidence in oneself will unlock doors, remembering and acknowledging those who have been supportive will keep one grounded.
(If there is a chance, grab it, because if it passes, it may never come back.)
Despite being a relative newcomer to the local women’s football scene, Teves has already grabbed her chance to prove herself as one of the best offensive talents in the league, and will no doubt continue to represent DLSU as one of its premier athletes in her remaining years of eligibility. In their recently concluded PFF Women’s League campaign, Teves proved her mettle as one of the top forwards in the country, tallying 19 goals in 11 games to tie for the competition’s Golden Boot award. While winning individual awards may be sweet, Teves affirms that bringing the title back to Taft is the ultimate goal, stating, “Hindi kami titigil hangga’t may playing years ako, ibabalik namin ang championship title sa DLSU Lady Booters.”
(We will not stop as long as I still have playing years, we will work to bring back the championship title to the DLSU Lady Booters.)
With her work far from done, Teves remains grateful to the fans who tirelessly showed their support for the team from start to finish. The young star claims that seeing others share their love and passion for football makes her hard work all the more worthwhile. “Sobrang grateful po ako sa Lasallian community, sana ‘wag po kayo magsawa mag-support sa amin,” Teves shares.
(I am very grateful to the Lasallian community, hopefully, your support for us does not tire.)
