THE UST Junior Golden Booters’ dominant Season 86 campaign ended in disappointing fashion after a punching incident involving goalkeeper Ben Sabuga marred UST’s first-ever finals run in juniors football.
READ: UAAP probes punching incident in UST vs FEU HS football finals
However, the Junior Golden Booters are eager to move past the controversy. As they prepare for Season 87, the team is focused on replicating last year’s breakthrough — minus the controversy this time.
“‘Yong nangyari last season, na-address na namin ‘yon. Gusto namin bagong start ‘to sa team, and we’re taking the positives from last year, katulad ng first time namin makarating sa finals,” UST head coach Marjo Allado told the Varsitarian.
“Last year, nakita ko sa team na ‘yon na kayang-kaya mag-compete sa FEU. This year, tingin ko matutuloy naman kung ano ‘yong nasimulan namin last year. Ang attitude ng mga players ngayon talagang nasa winning form,” he added.
Goalkeepers Marco Jalog and Edcel James Lauron are set to take over the role previously held by Sabuga, who was excluded from this year’s lineup following disciplinary actions imposed by the team, in addition to the UAAP’s four-game suspension.
Eight players have also been added to the squad to replenish last year’s graduates: Kiel Elopre, Trez Mariñas, Kent de la Peña, Jose Gabriel Solangco, Allisson Calo, Gene Yancgo, John Lagahit, and Sean Francisco.
Sixteen-year-old Josh Moleje, who earned a full scholarship from Levante Unión Deportiva, a Valencia-based football club in Spain’s Segunda División, is expected to lead the team in Season 87.
Joining Moleje are youth national team members Alphan Lomibao and Yuan Maniscan.
“May changes kami siyempre, pero ‘yong core ng team intact pa rin so tingin ko kaya ulit namin ma-retain ‘yong quality na pinakita namin,” Allado said.
Season 87 will feature an expanded competition with the addition of Claret School of Quezon City and PAREF Southridge School — two highly regarded high school football programs in Metro Manila. The juniors football tournament now includes six schools and will adopt a Final Four format for the first time.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the expanded field, Allado emphasized the importance of staying grounded and focusing on one game at a time.
“Alam ko kung ano kakayahan ng team na ‘to and the players we have. Stay on the ground muna kami every game, and then tsaka namin iisipin ‘yong finals or championship,” he said. “Ayaw naming madapa habang wala pa kami doon sa goal.”
The UST Junior Golden Booters will kick off their Season 87 campaign against PAREF Southridge School on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.