i was wondering, how do you think the team will do next year? with majority of the players gone, most of them masteral, could they still win it next year?

The defense is intact and still strong. Although, we will lose Mortillero's offensive skills on the left side plus he was the team's deadball specialist. Reyes is going to have to learn how to bend it like Beckham. Cancio has proven he can score but we need players to get the ball to him. Our whole midfield is gone. I don't know who the recruits are going to be. Right now we may have problems scoring goals next year.

yeah.... i see... well, good luck to the team next year!

from what i know, more than half of their starters are masteral students, and with them gone, it would clearly mean a big difference, defense is still good, but its the offense that wins you the game... you cant win with a score of 0... from what i see, its impossible now to recruit from the provinces because a) masteral players will no longer be allowed to play, and b) if we recruit incoming provincial atheletes, they will definitely have a hard time passing the acet...

why not recruit from the high school? with the afc, and coach ompong and other senior team coaches overseeing it, they should produce good talent.. any prospects???

well, i was just thinking . . . with the 3peat, it would be a shame if we wont put up a good fight next year...

^ not true. majority of the staters are college students. only around three or four are taking their masters. half of those who are leaving are 4th year seniors. a new uaap rule prevents players who graduate on time from playing for another year (sana nagpabagsak na lang sila noh?). maybe chillosk can shed light on this

Dude, mukhang mahirap maging bobo pag di ka talaga ginawa ng Diyos na bobo. Di kagaya ng iba diyan.

sorry... my mistake... i meant more than half of the starting line up will be graduating... 4 of the staters are taking their masters... and around 3 or 4 of the rest of the starters are graduating seniors....

re: masteral students as athletes --- i am not so sure about this but the way i understand the new rule (to be implemented season 69) is - bawal yung masteral students basta that is your 1st year stay in that particular school (i think the examples were some of the ue red warriors basketball players) - kasi they were not in ue as undergrads students then all of a sudden nasa ue na sila playing in the uaap kasi nag ma-masteral study daw.

pero if a players started in that school as a 1st year college students - then that players has 5 years of eligibility playing in uaap games (e.g., in the case of Larry, Paolo, Magnum, or in the football Ingles & company). why? because the uaap cannot suddenly change that 5 years eligibility rule & make it into 4 years only, di ba? they have to discuss that 1st before making it 4 years of eligibility rule.

i could be wrong here but my personal opinion only

^ yan din ung pagkakaintindi ko sa new rule na yan eh... kumbaga pang-iwas mercenaries... ung mga one-time solutions

Just a quick reminder, guys - we have a "Why Ban Masteral Students?" thread if you are interested in pursuing the discussion on the new UAAP rule.

Ateneo de Manila University
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT


9 March 2006


MEMO TO : THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY



FROM : THE PRESIDENT



SUBJECT : CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ATENEO MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM



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As we celebrate with a bonfire this Friday, March 10, 2006 the unprecedented three-peat of the Ateneo Men’s Football Team, I would like to express on behalf of the whole Ateneo community and on my behalf our warmest congratulations and our joy and exultation on their triumph. This has been a triumph of skill, yes, but above all a triumph of the spirit.

In talks I have given to athletes, I have often quoted from Herb Elliott, Olympian winner of the 1500 meter by a record margin of 20 meters. He says that what differentiates champions from other equally talented athletes is the element of desire. He says: “The ingredient I don’t understand is the ingredient of desire. Desire that is so strong that it will not allow compromise and entices or drives the champion remorselessly and inevitably to championship. It has to be available in sufficient measure to take a person through boring daily routines, doubt and and distraction.” And others would add, “frustration and pain.” Our champion football team has certainly shown this desire in great measure, carrying them through the boring daily routines and the heights of challenges to their unprecedented achievement. Again, our congratulations and thanks.

We are also proud that they embody the Ateneo ideals of “mens sana in corpore sano”, being outstanding athletes and students. A story we have been retelling is that after the championship game, we were looking for Roger Lastimado, who had scored the winning goal in overtime. When he arrived late for dinner, we found that after being the hero in this olympic quest, he took a shower and went to take an exam in political science. Just like that -- in fact, he had another exam in philosophy the next morning.

Our warmest thanks and congratulations, too, to Coach Ompong Merida and Atty. Eric Ingles and all the coaches and managers and supporters. As the team said in their thanks during our mass after the three-peat victory, it has been your mentoring and constant support that has brought them to this unprecedented peak. You have passed on to them the great tradition of Ateneo Football. Thank you for making all of us so proud.

Our bonfire will not just be a celebration of this three-peat championship, but a tribute to Ateneo Football, to our past and present heroes.

We salute our Three-Peat Champions, their coaches and managers.

We salute Ateneo Football Tradition.

Animo Ateneo!


BIENVENIDO F. NEBRES, S.J.
President