Babe's Eye View article

The intense rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle has been around for years that it has now reached mythical proportions. No one can really tell just when the rivalry started, but some accounts claim it began with the NCAA in 1939 when the two schools were pitted against each other in two final games, with the La Salle junior and senior teams defeating the Ateneo teams.

Even when the two teams left the NCAA for the UAAP, the intense rivalry continued. In the early days, there were players like Cristino "The Stretch" Arroyo of Ateneo who became legendary for tapping-in a miss in the last two seconds of the game, which won for Ateneo the 1957-1958 championship versus La Salle. Then there was also Joe Zubiri (the father of Migs) who, along with Kurt "Hook Shot Artist" Bachmann, led the La Salle squad.

I remember that game when the mother of Kurt Bachmann was watching, and she became so angry that she literally went into the court ready to hit with an umbrella one of the Ateneo players who apparently elbowed her son. I'm not sure which one of the Ateneo players it was—either it was Cris Arroyo or the late Ed Ocampo. That incident caused the La Sallites to be branded as "Mama's boys" for many years.

It's as if nothing else matters every time Ateneo battles La Salle. The rivalry has become so intense to the point that players—even the old ones back then—would become highly emotional, shedding tears because of the agony of defeat. But in the end, it doesn't really matter which team is stronger because what really makes it so exhilarating is the kind of never-say-die spirit displayed by each player reverberating in every game.

That's probably why even the New York Times saw fit to feature an article about it, saying the fierce competition is felt even among the rich and powerful—with government officials, businessmen, celebrities and influential people trooping to the games. Blue versus green—the colors of war—divide the two sides during each game, where spectators seem to forget their stature in society and act like college kids, jumping, clapping and shouting at each heart-stopping game.

As the NYT article said, "the frenzied crowds are often led by some of the most prominent alumni," such as Manny Pangilinan who is known for his generous donation to the basketball team and for athletic scholarships. Of course, La Salle counts Titoy Pardo (Erap's former Cabinet secretary) as well as business tycoon Danding Cojuangco, among its supporters.

Manny Pangilinan—a rabid Ateneo fan—invited me to watch the game last Thursday. But I remember the last time I watched, I stayed at the Ateneo side and some of my La Salle friends like Tony Arellano sent me all sorts of text messages, teasing me about being a "traitor" and a "turncoat," and I also got a lot of ribbing from Henry Cojuangco.

So when Nene Araneta (the owner of the Araneta Coliseum) invited me, I was thinking I'd be in a pretty neutral side. But Nene is a La Sallite through and through so we ended up sitting at the La Salle side. But then again, our friend, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney (who is a regular UAAP spectator) was seated with us, and claimed she's neutral. So I figured I would be in good company, being "diplomatically neutral."

But I tell you, these games can become so intense and at one's age, one could get overly excited it could literally give you a heart attack. The game last Thursday was no exception for its fierceness, and for sure the game today could have the magnitude of an intensity 8 because of what is at stake.

Lee McClenny, the US Embassy's Counselor for Public Affairs who accompanied Ambassador Kenney last Thursday, told us he had never seen anything like it. Foreigners are really amazed at the exhilarating passion unique to every Ateneo-La Salle game that seems to envelop every spectator inside the coliseum.

Sure enough, staying at the La Salle side last Thursday, I got a bucketful of "kantiyaws" from my Ateneo friends, including my own children who all went to Ateneo. This fierce rivalry has touched so many other families, like what Judy Araneta Roxas (Mar's mother) told me about the "horizontal division" in the Araneta-Roxas clan. The first generation including Don Amado Araneta and the late Senator Gerry Roxas are all La Sallites, while Ateneans like Mar make up the second generation.

I still say one is lucky to have gone to both Ateneo and La Salle even if it puts one in a rather difficult dilemma. But I have great friends from both sides of the fence. At the end of the day, if I had to do it all over again, I would still go to both schools—and I am not saying this diplomatically—I really think I have been fortunate enough to experience the best of both worlds, so to speak.

Ateneo is known for idealism among its students, and on the other hand, La Salle injects pragmatism and practicality—which in a way, balances everything and gives one a well-rounded character.

Nene Araneta invited me to watch the game again today—but I had to decline and just decided to watch from the comfort of my own home. I certainly don't want to lose any more friends from either side. But, at least, I am in a unique position to honestly say, "May the best team win." And just think—whoever wins today—I can also confidently say, "we won."