Dov Cariño Ready to Lead Ateneo’s Young Core in UAAP Season 88

After falling short in last year’s UAAP Football Finals against FEU, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are back hungrier than ever. At the heart of their campaign is midfielder Dov Cariño, last season’s Golden Boot winner and Best Midfielder, now stepping firmly into his role as one of the team’s leaders.

For Cariño, leadership means more than just titles. “As one of the leaders for Ateneo this upcoming season, I want to bring my experience from my national team duties and UAAP games into the team,” he said. “I want to lead by example and hopefully have a positive impact on every single player.”

Adjusting to Change

Ateneo enters Season 88 with both losses and fresh faces. Veterans have moved on, but a new crop of rookies is ready to step up. “The biggest adjustment is the number of players we lost and the number of new players joining,” Cariño explained. “We’re trying to get everyone up to speed for what we want to achieve and how we want to play this upcoming season.”

Despite the transition, their preseason campaign showed promise. Ateneo reached the semifinals of a tune-up tournament, falling to UP but proving their potential. “It was really good for the team. We were able to see everyone play and it was a chance for our team to gel,” Cariño shared. “Every single player was able to show what we are capable of and what to expect this coming season.”

Rising Blue Eagles

Among the new names to watch, Cariño highlighted Andrei Gonzales and Nathan de Ocampo as breakout rookies. “Andrei showed us what he can bring to the team, especially in attack. Now that key players like Leo are out, it’s nice to see new ones providing the same danger and prowess,” he said. “Nathan was also a really pleasant surprise — rock solid at the back and he played like an experienced veteran.”

Rivalries and Redemption

The matchups ahead are ones Cariño relishes, especially against familiar rivals. “UP and DLSU are always exciting because of the rivalry and the crowd. But against FEU — they’ve knocked us out three straight seasons. We’re very excited to hopefully get some revenge and win the whole tournament.”

With Cariño’s leadership and Ateneo’s powerful young core, the Blue Eagles look primed to soar even higher in UAAP Season 88.

Carrying the Fire

Coming off an 11-goal season that earned him Golden Boot and Best Midfielder honors, expectations are high for Cariño. But he remains grounded. “For Season 88, I’m just going game per game, focusing on the next opponent and hopefully I will be able to show what I showed last season and bring the same energy, if not more.”

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