Big goals: UST’s Miguel Abada puts US plans on hold to play UAAP football

MANILA, Philippines – UAAP Season 86 was supposed to be the end of Miguel Abada’s football career. 

Winning last season’s Best Goalkeeper nod, UST’s Abada laid out plans to migrate to the United States and start a new life after finishing his undergraduate degree. 

But a heartbreaking semifinal loss to UP — which extended the Fighting Maroons’ eight-year dominance over the Golden Booters — forced him to stay for another shot at redemption. 

“I was ready to go,” Abada said. “But, actually, the UP loss made me stay put in UST.”

UST narrowly lost via penalty shootout against UP in last season’s semifinals, 8-7, before the Fighting Maroons went on to rule the men’s football tournament by dethroning the FEU Tamaraws in the finals. 

“That was the game that made me stay. That time, we felt like we were right there already. It was too bad. We felt like we could do it,” said Abada, who saved numerous crucial attempts in their semifinal loss. 

“I also felt like it was a highlight of my career, but then we fell short,” Abada said in Filipino. “I told myself, one more. Let’s try to beat everyone again next year.”

The Golden Booters had not won a game against the Fighting Maroons since March 10, 2016 during Season 78. 

Abada, who now serves as the team captain, wasn’t even playing for UST back then, and still seeing action in high school football with Xavier School in San Juan. 

That drought, however, finally ended when the Golden Booters took down UP, 1-0, in their second game of Season 87 on September 19, when Abada had six saves in the final 30 minutes to finally turn back the Fighting Maroons. 

While it was far from vindication, Abada hopes it ignites UST’s dreams of a men’s football crown, which has been elusive since 2007 — something that has been in his mind since deciding to delay his US migration. 

“I really want to leave UST with a championship. That would be a great ending for me,” said Abada, who is in his final year of eligibility.

Abada still plans to join his family in the US after finishing the season and his master’s degree at UST, eventually aiming to focus on business over football.

But Abada said his dream of being a national team player remains, noting he remains open to opportunities to play for the country, whenever his services are needed. 

“Of course, I will always love football. It has always been my priority. But, you know, I want to eventually grow as a person outside of football,” he said. 

For now, Abada has kept himself grounded in the UAAP, hoping to help fuel UST’s title chances this season.

“We will continue to strive for consistency this year. It doesn’t stop with just UP,” he said. – Rappler.com