'Matalo na sa iba, wag lang sa...': The DLSU/ADMU rivalry

College sports are no trifle in the Philippines. With all the college leagues' sponsors and roaring crowds during the season, they are major cash cows and practically a national pastime. School rivalries even last decades after graduation.

One of the most entertaining, bloody, funny, and/or absurd pairings is that of De La Salle University (DLSU) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). When the two have a match, whether it be chess or basketball, ticket sales surge, temperatures go up a few degrees along Katipunan and Taft Avenue, and stadium guards go on alert. As a former Green Archer, I always felt the energy go up in the university when the season rolled around.

Basketball is where the schools' rivalry really heats up. What goes on during a De La Salle-Ateneo match?

Calm before the storm

It was a calm afternoon, July 24, 2010. For the second consecutive season, the appetizer game for this heavily-anticipated match was pushed back to 12:00 noon in order to separate the ticket selling between those who were watching the battle between National University (NU) and University of the East (UE) and the ones who were watching "the big one."

"The big one" was the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men's basketball tourney featuring archrivals DLSU and ADMU on the Araneta Coliseum's hardwood floor.

Ever since their action-packed encounter in the Filoil Flying V Pre-season tilt that was highlighted by a Ferdinand dunk over Nico Salva, Ateneo had been smarting from that embarrassing loss even if it was just a tuneup match.

The old adage for either squad remains: "Matalo na lang sa iba, huwag lang sa La Salle/Ateneo" (Let us lose to anyone but La Salle/Ateneo).

Right after the match where the Bulldogs surprised the Red Warriors with their first win against the Recto five since 2002, there was a nearly two-hour lull inside the cavernous Big Dome to allow the arena's staff to empty the venue of people from the first game and to clean up the mess that they left behind.

As the other writers worked on their articles, I found myself roaming inside and around the venue for interesting scattershots. When I got outside, the long and winding lines reminded me of when I was still back in college and had to line up in the same torturous lines with alumni, students and fans alike. The work I got into a year later actually gives me a reason to be at the heart of the action.

I'd seen so many encounters between these teams on television and up in the nosebleed seats of the 15,000-plus capacity venue, but nothing prepared me for what was to be another classic finish to another match in this historic rivalry.

About an hour left before tipoff, I encountered a couple of familiar faces, which included Simon Atkins (DLSU's team captain) and JV Casio (Smart-Gilas Pilipinas guard and former Green Archer), who were both my classmates in different subjects during college. We engaged in some small talk before the match commenced.

On the other side of the hallway, meanwhile, were the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Having lost their twin tower combo of last year's Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini and defensive monster Nonoy Baclao, they had to rely on rookie JP Erram and sometimes-erratic Frank Golla in the shaded lane.

Both teams went out on the court separately for a little pre-game shootaround in a court that looked almost haunted due to the lack of light and all the empty seats. It was the calm before the storm. De La Salle went out first and retreated to their dugout after thirty minutes, then Ateneo had their warmup stint on the court.

Soon after, the lights were switched on and fanatics in green and blue filed into the stadium. Affluent and influential people from La Salle and Ateneo had reserved ringside seats and did not rush into the venue, unlike the crowd of students and fans who had to fight for the best available views from the first come-first served nosebleed sections a.k.a. general admission.

Outside the media room, which was located near the Binibining Pilipinas office at the Coliseum, the Blue Eagles had their pre-game huddle which included a short review of the game plan and a pep talk from team captain Eric Salamat. Then, a huge cry of "GO ATENEO! ONE BIG FIGHT!" filled the hallway and soon the players went out into the court.

The Green Archers also had their usual pre-game ritual of touching the huge crucifix that was placed at the South Gate entrance, with all of the players forming a huge circle and having a prayer and a little speech from Captain Atkins. After their battle cry of "GOOOO--OHOH-OH-OH! ANIMO LA SALLE! 1-2-3! GO LA SALLE FIGHT! 1-2-3! GO LA SALLE FIGHT! 1-2-3! GO LA SALLE FIGHT!" they rushed out onto the floor.

The big one

The game started thirty minutes late because of a lengthy pre-game vignette by ABS-CBN Sports hyping the awaited matchup. During the delay, high-profile personalities made their way to their expensive seats, some of which were "scalped" by various black maket traders for astronomical rates, from their original price of P400 to as much as a rumored P50,000 per seat.

Near the press area, from the back row of Section 110, came various chants and even expletives shouted by audience members in blue and green alike. Particularly rabid were some fans in business attire, who kept pointing their fingers at players targeted by the opposing crowd for fouls or any other infraction.

Amidst all the hype surrounding the two elimination round pairings between these two squads, I realized that the rivalry between basketball teams was just another extension of the race between the two institutions to accumulate bragging rights in terms of the accomplishments of their respective students and alumni, considered among the best in field of business.

In the heat of the final period, the Blue Eagles were up by just a solitary point and were going down with a cold 0-for-7 shooting in the last five minutes of the quarter. Joseph Marata buried a three-pointer from the right arc to put the Green Archers up by just two with 1:26 to go. Simon Atkins then split his two free throws with 17 seconds on the clock to give the Taft five a three-point lead.

But in the end, the slim three-point advantage held up. Justin Chua was the only man left open for a pair of missed three pointers. The La Salle players and their faithful burst into jubilation and celebrated as if they won the national championship.

At the dugouts, Marata emotionally dedicated this season to his late uncle and former PBA player Ric-Ric Marata, who was partially responsible for introducing him to the game of basketball. For Coach Dindo Pumaren, this victory finally pulled the thorn from his side.

On the other end, Coach Norman Black of Ateneo was frustrated at how his team's defense lapsed and let Oda Tampus and Marata free for open shots at the basket, while downplaying the horrible shooting by the midway point of the fourth period onwards.

After all the hoopla of the game subsided by around 8:30 p.m., I left the coliseum, which had gone dark and had almost emptied, a stark contrast to the chaos earlier.