National University is setting its sights on a first-ever Final Four appearance in the UAAP men’s football tournament under the tutelage of a new coach and a roster composed mostly of first-year players.
The Bulldogs have tapped the services of national U-16 coach and San Beda assistant Mari Aberasturi to lead a young squad in their quest to improve on last season’s sixth place finish in the competition.
“We’re putting our expectation that high. Ang aim lang namin is to play better each game at hopefully makapasok sa Final Four,” said Aberasturi, who was hired by NU team officials led by team manager BJ Manalo in late August.
While NU won’t be last season’s core led by star striker Paolo Salenga, Aberasturi expressed confidence that his team has what it takes to make the semis for the first time since the school revived its football team in 2012.
Leading the team are veterans Jezer Jalandoni, Mark Jojo Marcaida, Hayeson Pepito, Chris Maverick Perocho, Eddie Alivio, Jekar Sullano, Jericho Dagsa, Lawrence Colina, Patrick Valenzuela and Jacob Gomez.
They will be reinforced by rookies Ross Lee Lawagan, Elmer Sampaga, Jason Socrates, Joven Jevera, Mike Arbela, Jeffrey Fabro, Ken Caringal, Korean Joo Bin Park, Aldrin Agana and Mike Bacay and sophomores Owen Padernal and Marvin Viray.
NU got a big boost ahead of the UAAP opener this weekend at the Rizal Memorial Stadium when it reached the semifinals of the Ang Liga Division I, a tournament competed mostly by teams in the UAAP and NCAA.
Aberasturi, who will be assisted by Florante Altivo, Ronaldo Pinero and Anthony Albao, plans to implement a counter-attacking style against fancied teams like defending champion University of the Philippines, Ateneo, La Salle, University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University.
“Since bago lang kami pumasok, yung plan talaga namin is counter-attacking,” he said. “Kasi mahirap talaga mag-create ng system in five months, and hopefully makapag-adjust kami as the season progresses.”
NU opened its campaign last Saturday against University of the East at the Rizal pitch.