Green against blue: aside from the contrasting features that the two colours showcase, it means something very different for the basketball world here in the Philippines. It’s probably the biggest basketball rivalry here in this basketball-crazy part of the archipelago, and we’re not even talking about pro ball; we’re talking about collegiate ranks.
Ateneo-La Salle rivalry is one or the most anticipated basketball games every year. Throw away the stat sheets or the win-loss columns, expect nothing less of a “clash of titans”-like battles whenever this two storied schools will meet inside the basketball court.
How did the rivalry begin?
It all started in 1939, where the De La Salle University Green Archers and the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). But at that time, Archers vs Eagles was not considered to be a rivalry. It was the Blue Eagles versus the San Beda College Red Lions that was the hottest talk of the town.
Then came the 16th season of NCAA where a seed of a lifetime rivalry would be planted. The Green Archers made a surprise appearance in the finals against the heavily favoured Blue Eagles. Ateneo had won every single game of the elimination round that propelled them to enter the finals. On the other hand, La Salle was in uncharted territory against a very dominant opponent.
However, after a hard-fought match, a shocking turn of events took place. La Salle outdueled Ateneo with a 27-23 win (yes, you have read the scores right) to bag their first ever NCAA title.
The two teams later transferred to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) where they continued their hotly contested wars, to the extent that sports writers started to dub it as a rivalry.
Championships against each other
Every Ateneo-La Salle game is a skirmish on the court. Every point, every rebound, every hustle can cause a heart attack to a spectator due to the excitement that this rivalry gives. But there is no greater war than when everything is on the line at a Championship game against your arch nemesis.
Ateneo and La Salle met in the championship rounds of NCAA and UAAP seven times. Ateneo bagged four titles (1958, 1988, 2002, 2008), with La Salle getting three (1939, 1974, 2001).
2001 UAAP Finals: The last of the four-peat
La Salle entered the UAAP Season 64 fresh from three consecutive championships, while Ateneo were trying to snap a 13-year drought. This was the first time since 1988 that the two teams met in the finals. The series would go the distance as La Salle beat Ateneo in the deciding game 3, capping off a school record of a rare four-peat.
| La Salle | Ateneo | |
| Game One | 74 | 68 |
| Game Two | 72 | 76 |
| Game Three | 93 | 88 |
2002 UAAP Finals: Sweet revenge to end the drought
Coming off from their fourth championship in a row, La Salle faced a hungry Ateneo team that was eager to end a 14-year drought. La Salle almost swept the elimination round that could have sent them straight to the best-of-three finals, just to see them denied by Ateneo beating them prior to the final four round.
La Salle entered the finals in a traditional way by beating University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the final four stage. Ateneo, meanwhile, outlasted University of the East Red Warriors in two games with the Blue Eagles having a twice-to-beat disadvantage.
The series would go the distance again as the two teams needed another three games to settle the score. The Blue Eagles ultimately clinched their first championship in 14 years. But doing it against their bitter rivals would have made this championship sweeter.
| Ateneo | La Salle | |
| Game One | 72 | 70 |
| Game Two | 77 | 85 |
| Game Three | 77 | 70 |
2008 UAAP Finals: The start of a historic five-peat
After 6 years, Ateneo and La Salle met again at the pinnacle stage of the tournament. Ateneo would end the series at two games, defeating the defending champions La Salle. This would be the start of a historic five-peat for Ateneo. This five-peat still stands as the record for the most consecutive championships since the final-four format was used in the UAAP, beating the four-peat recorded by La Salle.
| Ateneo | La Salle | |
| Game One | 69 | 61 |
| Game Two | 62 | 51 |
Rivalry getting personal off the court
“Matalo na sa lahat, Huwag lang sa La Salle/Ateneo!” (We can afford to lose to anybody, but never to La Salle/Ateneo!).
What has made this rivalry so distinctc from others is that it has become very personal. From bloodied mouths due to punches or cheap shots to near free-for-all brawls – you name it, they have it! “
If we put down an Atenean, we’re not gonna help them up.” said former archer Ty Tang (2002-2007). “Basically we’re on the middle of a gladiator match. It’s really uncivilized. Very barbaric.” he later added.
Former Atenean L.A Tenorio (2002-2006), who has seen action for the national team of the Philippines in the recent World Cup of Basketball in Spain, said that he is very sure that his Blue Eagles are far better than the guys in green.
Lim Em Beng (1971-1974), a former Green Archer, recalled back in his college days that if you had a car with a sticker of Ateneo or La Salle, “Malamang basag yan pag labas mo.” (Probably your windows would be broken when you go out).
During Ateneo-La Salle matches, the Araneta Coliseum or the Mall of Asia Arena, which are current venues for the games, would be parted in two ways: one side would be filled blue and the other side green. Even the fans in the venues during the game can go out of hand.
In one instance in 2013, after the first round match-up between Ateneo and La Salle, current Ateneo head Coach Bo Perasol attacked a La Salle alumnus from the stands, accusing the La Salle alumnus of heckling. The UAAP later punished Perasol with a one-game ban while giving the La Salle alumnus a 1-year ban from watching La Salle games live.
Playing for the team written on your chest
Of course there’s nothing greater than playing for your Alma Matter, especially against your arch-rivals. “Every time we play La Salle, it doesn’t matter if we are much stronger or we’re much weaker, you always play at your best,” said former Atenean Olsen Racela (1988-1992), who is now an Assistant Coach for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the pro ranks here in the Philippines.
Former Atenean Chris Tiu (2003-2008), probably the most famous Blue Eagle of all time, remembers his first Ateneo-La Salle game as nerve-wracking. “I remembered the first time I entered the court in a Ateneo-La Salle game, it was maybe 20,000 people, packed to the rafters, one side green, one side blue. People tell you and warn you to prepare for it but it’s different once you’re in there.”
Former Lasalite RenRen Ritualo (1997-2001), dubbed as “King Archer” and the probably the greatest shooter in Green Archers’ history, said, “Maririnig mo yung mga nagsusuporta sayo, mga nagmamahal sayo, so ‘yun, ibig sabihin maraming nagmamahal sa akin.” (You’ll hear all that are supporting you, all who are loving you, so meaning there’re a lot out there who loves me).
“Parang ayaw mong magkamali. Kasi every time na magkamali ka sa game, parang iisipin mo na-disappoint mo yung buong school” (It’s like you don’t want to commit any mistakes. Because every time that you commit a mistake during the game, you feel like you have disappointed the whole school), Tenorio cited.
“Every game, they we’re cheering my name, ‘LIM EM BENG! LIM EM BENG!’ all the way up to the end of the game they we’re cheering my name! So how can I let La Salle down?” Lim Em Beng added.
Living up to the hype
With every storied sports rivalry comes unprecedented fame for the players, especially to those who are considered as the stars of the team. Advertisements, sponsors and TV appearances and guesting come like a free flowing river for these players.
“In Ateneo, basketball players were sort of treated like superstars and gods at campus,” Tiu laughingly admitted.
With all the hype, brawls and so much history surrounding this rivalry, it's no wonder it has been tagged as the most heated rivalry here in the Philippines. Players would come and go, but the legend of this rivalry will go on.
Maybe in other parts of this crazy world, the contrast of blue and green signifies nothing. But for the small country of the Philippines, these colours will always signify arch-rivals.
Guess the Lakers players!
