GREEN Archers United stalwart Jesus Melliza has definitely picked up from where he left off in the recent UAAP season.
After emerging the Best Scorer in the country's top collegiate league where he led Far Eastern University Tamaraws to a third-place finish, the 20-year-old La Paz, Iloilo native has scored in both games since he suited up for the Archers in the United Football League.
And Melliza hopes to continue providing the spark for the team when it takes on winless PSG on Saturday night at the Emperador Stadium.
As a starter against Philippine Air Force last February 28, the 5-foot-2 striker stood tall by scoring the first of the team’s four goals just 23 minutes into the game.
And as a substitute against Army last week, Melliza proved why he is one of the league’s most efficient scorers, along with Kaya’s Janrick Soriano, when he scored the team’s lone goal that forced the draw just two minutes after he came in the 54th.
Melliza, who scored more than 20 goals in the UAAP season, won’t mind if he continues to come off the bench in their 8 p.m. meeting against the Iranian-laden squad, which is in eighth place with a point to show in five games.
“Okay lang na sub ako. Syempre second half pagod na rin sila kaya pag pasok ko, fresh pa. Alam ni coach yung ginagawa niya kaya tiwala ako sa kanya.”
So long as he does his job for the Archers, who are in the seventh spot with four points in five matches, like he always did for the Tamaraws.
“Syempre iba yung level ng UFL sa UAAP. Kung hindi ka one hundred percent dito, siguradong babagsak ka.”
One person who can definitely attest to Melliza’s potential is teammate and fellow Ilonggo Chieffy Caligdong.
“He has a good spirit. He is a good-attitude player," the national team skipper said. “Malayo pa mararating ng bata na ‘to."
"Buo ang loob every time na ipasok siya. Yun yung mga tipo ng player na kailangan natin in the future,” the Philippine Sportswriters Association's Mr. Football co-awadee added.
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