From Borneo Football Cup

By Maxine Agno

The Ateneo Boys’ Football Team asserted their skill and determination as they bagged the championship title in the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup Under-18 Division, held from October 27 to 29, where the Blue Eagles navigated a challenging three-day competition at the Penampang Stadium.

In their opening match, the Eagles overpowered the Datuk Peter Mojuntin (DPM) Sports School with a 4–1 victory. The goals came from Manuel Enrique Simpao, Lorenzo Joachim Altuna, Diego Quintin Angeles, and Team Captain Andres Gabriel Dumlao. 

Their victory continued in their second match against Jerudong International School, securing a 2–1 win courtesy of the offensive pair of Dumlao and Angeles, who found the back of the net once more. 

Co-Captain Tim Patawaran highlighted the team’s psychological boost: “We started off the tournament with a 4–1 andan–1 win. Our wins on the first day really boosted our confidence and really gave us the grit to do well during the second day.” 

The second day began with a tight defensive battle that resulted in a loss against National Capital Region (NCR) Select. However, this loss served as a turning point for the team. Captain Dumlao shared that the loss motivated them to win their next game and gain back their momentum.

Patawaran detailed the huddle’s focus on the team’s need to lock in and do their best. They reminded themselves that they did not come this far to let one loss dictate their run. 

With intense conversations to hype each other up, Ateneo rebounded immediately against Tunas Asas Bola Sepak (TABS), shutting out for a clean 2–0 win, with goals coming from Jose Andres Rafael Hizon and Leord Demetria. 

The day ended with a decisive win over RZFC, sealed by a clutch goal from Captain Dumlao — setting the stage for their championship game the next day. 

The motivation paid off on October 29 as Ateneo faced NCR Select once again in the championship match. In the hard-fought final, the Blue Eagles dug deep to secure the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup trophy. 

“Having lost in the finals of the past two tournaments, this became a ‘must-win’ tournament. This experience has not only proved the team’s skill in playing but also our fighting spirit as a team,” Patawaran stated. To the team, the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup journey was more than just a tournament — it was ground to showcase their resilience and champion mindset.