The other day, a colleague of mine from Inquirer Libre, Dennis Eroa, asked me to contribute my thoughts on the upcoming Ateneo-La Salle game – the issue will be distributed this Sunday before the game -- and this is what I wrote:
“There’s something about collision courses when I think of Ateneo-La Salle games. They are mostly played as either the very first game of the season or at the tail end of each round. And as such, they have plenty of bearing making the annual rite of renewal between the two schools a match of even greater proportions and ramifications. They are and never will be for the faint of heart. And someone definitely has to give big time.
For Ateneo, La Salle is the acid test for any title aspiration they may have and this year is no different with all due respect to FEU. It’s for the lead at the end of the first round and will carry over right onto the next. Handle the Green Archers and you can pretty much do away with everyone else. It’s that simple but the game will definitely not be.
I can’t speak for La Salle, but there’s something about these collision courses when these two schools play that make me think of train wrecks.”-- Rick Olivares
“When I saw my teammates’ fiery eyes, my schoolmates throwing their fists up high in full swing, I knew it was over. Buzzer... Game over.”-- Epok Quimpo on Game 3 of the 2002 Finals
"My Ateneo-La Salle memories brings me back to around the mid 90's where Ateneo was clearly the underdog. Reversal of roles now as DLSU, at least on paper, has a so-called inferior line up to that of Ateneo's. But it will still be a good game. I believe La Salle will play with heart and pride just as ateneo did in those days when not even the Ateneans could believe of a won game against their arch-rivals. Remember the game when it rained treys? Verayo, the Sison twins, Camua...they were on fire. So this Sunday, again, no stats... just blue and green."- Nolan Bernardino
“2002. The 13-1 game. Epok Quimpo drilling that 3 pointer to balloon the lead to 20. Epic. Also that 1996 game where 3's rained and a powerhouse La Salle team got beat big."- Jeff Tagle
“There’s something about collision courses when I think of Ateneo-La Salle games. They are mostly played as either the very first game of the season or at the tail end of each round. And as such, they have plenty of bearing making the annual rite of renewal between the two schools a match of even greater proportions and ramifications. They are and never will be for the faint of heart. And someone definitely has to give big time.
For Ateneo, La Salle is the acid test for any title aspiration they may have and this year is no different with all due respect to FEU. It’s for the lead at the end of the first round and will carry over right onto the next. Handle the Green Archers and you can pretty much do away with everyone else. It’s that simple but the game will definitely not be.
I can’t speak for La Salle, but there’s something about these collision courses when these two schools play that make me think of train wrecks.”-- Rick Olivares
“When I saw my teammates’ fiery eyes, my schoolmates throwing their fists up high in full swing, I knew it was over. Buzzer... Game over.”-- Epok Quimpo on Game 3 of the 2002 Finals
"My Ateneo-La Salle memories brings me back to around the mid 90's where Ateneo was clearly the underdog. Reversal of roles now as DLSU, at least on paper, has a so-called inferior line up to that of Ateneo's. But it will still be a good game. I believe La Salle will play with heart and pride just as ateneo did in those days when not even the Ateneans could believe of a won game against their arch-rivals. Remember the game when it rained treys? Verayo, the Sison twins, Camua...they were on fire. So this Sunday, again, no stats... just blue and green."- Nolan Bernardino
“2002. The 13-1 game. Epok Quimpo drilling that 3 pointer to balloon the lead to 20. Epic. Also that 1996 game where 3's rained and a powerhouse La Salle team got beat big."- Jeff Tagle
"I was a kid during the '96 three-point barrage, and it was there that my love for the blue and white was born. Finally got to study there in college and see, experience and feel the passion that is Ateneo vs La Salle, where your friends in green suddenly become your enemies and foes. I saw the pain in losing to them, but savor each and every single win, whether regular season, playoffs or even preseason and offseason, if it is Team A or B. The country stops for a moment and watches as two cultures collide, which only a few can really understand, comprehend and relate. And to chant, One Big Fight! and to sing our alma mater song will always be something I can always be happy and be proud, whether we win (which is a wonderful thing to have) or lose (which magnifies the pain and frustration). And then we await the next round. Repeat. And it will go on and on and on as long as we and they both exist."
- JP Manahan
“Every Ateneo-La Salle game is memorable. :)
First, we do always outnumber the green gallery (not because of ticket allocation but more on our being ma-diskarte).
Second, we do always out-cheer them (considering that their cheers only consist of four words: Animo, La Salle, Go, DLSU).
Third, our halftime routine is simply beautiful and loud compared to theirs (traditional cheers are not memorized anymore by the La Sallians).
Fourth, we do not need a group of alumni and students (selling green shirts) in the upper box section to infect others to cheer.
Fifth, the Ateneans in the patron and lowerbox sections are not "zombies" unlike their green counterparts.
Lastly, Ateneans know how to lose. That's why it's "win or lose, it's the school we choose" and not "never shall we fail."
- Mon Cualoping
You're all welcome to chip in your thoughts whether you're from Ateneo or La Salle. Real names please. No alternicks. Alternicks = cowards with no balls.
Tessa Jazmines asked me this morning if I was wearing yellow to the game this Sunday. I said, "No. I'm wearing blue and white." I subscribe to John Stockton's theory of brotherhood and unity (paraphrasing his thoughts on the Olympic spirit) by going out and kicking the other team's ass.
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