The recent Ateneo-La Salle Game seemed to be a regular duel between the two storied rivals. There is such a thing as “regular” even when we talk about such a highly anticipated matchup between these two prestigious universities. Maybe, “less memorable” is the better term for it – the expected result happened; no huge in-game scuffles occurred; it was very far from a classic game.
However, this game marked some firsts for me. It was the first time I got to witness an empty General Admission section. The Green Gallery could not fill up the upper 1/3 of the middle Upper B section during the time the blue shirted audience have begun conquering the La Salle side. What is even startling is the fact that the once mighty La Salle crowd seemed to lose its spunk. They cheered, but the swagger was missing. They would normally boo us passionately after our initial cheer. They could not muster a wave even if it was a tight game in the first half. All I witnessed was a rival crowd stressed by the fact that they know their team would not win this game.
I am not a psychic and I may be wrong, but from my point of view, the La Salle gallery seemed defeated before the game started. They were outnumbered, but I have witnessed them fight back despite similar occasions before. Back when they fielded a rookie-laden squad in 2003, I can remember them out-cheering us during an upset.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Not only did the La Salle crowd change, even the Blue and White gallery behaved differently this time around. But before we get to that, I would like to share my experience as a fan in the past ten years. This year marked my tenth consecutive year of watching UAAP games live. Even if the venue is still the same, much has changed through the years. Shown below are the various experiences I had.
Warning: As always, there are biases in this blog. However, I will be attempting to point out commendable and inappropriate actions that both sides had. This is not an attempt to compare how morally right a fanbase is over the other. Rather, this is more of an observation on how the fanbases evolved – for better or for worse – in the past ten years.
2002
How the Lasallians Behaved: As the school from Taft boasted multiple consecutive titles, bunch of them bragged confidently that they will win it again. After all, their Katipunan rivals failed in the Final Four during the previous years. The 14 year drought did not help Ateneo either. I remember getting irked watching biased Lasallian hosts brag on how it was easy for their hoops team to beat the Ateneans. Mike Enriquez was playing his Alma Mater song during Monday mornings. He was bashing Ateneo for several minutes especially when the Blue Eagles fell to a 4-5 record. The cockiest celebrity was, of course, Bobby Yan. Poking fun at Ateneo was tolerable, but he always went below the line.
I remember my high school mates from Taft proclaiming an easy win for DLSU before the Round 2 game started. The result: they were blown out. We blemished their record to 13-1. However, it never shattered the confidence from the Green Side. They would mock “One Big Fight” with “Drive for Five” or “Voltes Five.” They would call “Ateneo Blue Eagles” as “Ateneo Blue Eggless.” When Ateneo won Game 1, a Lasallian was asked on who he thinks will win Game 2. He responded by saying that they will be having a bonfire in Game 3. Yes. They have not even won Game 2 and he already assumed that they will be the champions. Result: They lost in Game 3.
How the Ateneans Behaved: 14 years of losing is not a good thing. Your confidence level as a fan is not that high. You have a tendency to assume that something will eventually go wrong when things are in your favor. Whenever Mike Cortez steals the ball on consecutive possessions, we cringed. After all, the Green Archers were four-time champions. They were the kings of clutch. 14 years of losing does make you hungry though. The loudest I have heard Ateneo cheered was during the Game 3 of the Finals then. The “One Big Fight” cheers were deafening. It was our special chant then. It was because we were used to watching uncertain outcomes that we need to rally the team to give whatever fight they have in them. Winning after 14 years of losing also gave a unique experience. People were throwing high fives and hugging strangers when we were about to win that championship game. My most definitive quote of the time was from the guy seated in our left in that Game 3: “Totoo ba ‘to? Magchachampion tayo? Magchachampion tayo!”
Ateneans cheered louder then, but whenever Lasallians cheered, they always made an impact. It was either because they knew when to cheer and theirs were more simple and catchy.
2003
Situation: Losing most of its starters, DLSU was in a rebuilding year. Ateneo, on the other hand, fielded an elite squad with Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier and LA Tenorio as their Fab Four.
How the Lasallians Behaved: They still had the spunk. The winning attitude does not go away after losing one year. It also helped them that their players were expert trash talkers. But with a rookie-laden team, their numbers started to dwindle. DLSU got swept in the eliminations so by the time the two rivals met in the Final Four, Ateneo ate up a significant chunk of DLSU’s area. However, it turned up to be their definitive game (The Gaco-Tenorio Game). They might have been outnumbered but they joyously cheered and celebrated in that upset. Ateneo eventually disposed their foes but it left me with a bad feeling – we may have won the year but it helped La Salle’s future more as they gained the valuable experience (while we were stuck with veterans because Joel Banal refused to play the rookies and sophomores).
Nevertheless, La Salle never expected to make it that far. When they were eliminated, they even had to resort to cheering for another team by chanting “F-E-U! F-E-U!”
How Ateneans Behaved: Of course, we were confident then! Ateneo was blowing out teams left and right. The signature game was when the Blue Eagles rained threes to crush the 2nd seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the 2nd round. During those times, the Ateneo crowd reacted more on offensive plays. After all, we had sterling scorers. Rich’s dunks and Larry/Wesley’s threes triggered the biggest crowd pops.
2004
Situation: Ateneo was in deep trouble when Larry Fonacier had the ACL injury. Thanks to ex-coach Joel Banal who forgot that he also had rookies to develop, our bench was effed up. New coach Sandy Arespacochaga was able to muster the Blue Team to seven straight regular season wins though. DLSU, on the other hand, was struggling to win in the middle of the eliminations. Cardona was benched and they had to put in a huge second round run to reach the Final Four.
How the Lasallians Behaved: I know some Lasallians who despised their star player Mac Cardona. After all, he was a headcase. Two years removed of a championship was tough for them. Ateneo fans still outnumbered them even if DLSU blew the Blue Eagles in multiple games.
How the Ateneans Behaved: After Larry got injured, Team Ateneo had to prevail in close matches. The most definitive ones were 1) the Adamson game (the one right before Larry got injured – Ateneo was down by a huge margin at the start of that game) and 2) the FEU game (where LA Tenorio bailed Ateneo with his step-back three). This was the year when “The Sixth Man” was born. Ateneans cheered relentlessly as they inspired the Hail Mary squad to climb back from huge deficits and deliver in the clutch. DLSU may have won the championship, but Ateneo has snagged the “Best Team in Clutch” that year. Another memorable mantra during this year was “PUSO!” For those who watched the recent Ateneo-La Salle game, you may have noticed the DLSU Pep Squad with the heart formation. Way back in 2004, the Blue Babble Batallion were the ones who always showed that formation to inspire their fans.
However, Ateneans bashed Sandy Arespacochaga’s capability then. Yes, even if he led us to seven straight regular season wins. Not our proudest moment, but that was what I experienced.
2005
Situation: Can we skip this season? This destroyed my final year in college.
How the Lasallians Behaved: Fresh from a championship, the green gallery’s swagger was back. They would taunt the Eagles relentlessly. I am not 100% sure on this, but I think “Gang Green” began here. They knew they had the better team with Yeo, Arana, Villanueva Tang and Cabatu. They would surmount huge leads thus leaving the Ateneo community silent for most of the game. The La Salle crowd cheered for their players antics (Arana’s dance move and their team’s photo op). But, that is how games work – sports bring out the best and worst out of a human being. And yet, you have to understand them because they are passionate fans like me and you. 2005 was the first time one team got swept during the full season. As the Lasallians say then, “tambakan na naman!”
Ateneans are always proud that we can match up against La Salle whether the team is weak or not. Ateneo usually defeats DLSU at least once during the Dark Ages. That was why this season was the worst for me.
How the Ateneans Behaved: I have to admit it, we were a whiny bunch then. I do not know if it was the effect of too much emo music in the airwaves. We were complaining at every wrong call. From “Puso,” we shouted “Luto” to the referees. You can often hear bad words when watching a game. We might have matched Ari Gold of “Entourage” in blurting the most number of inappropriate words in a minute. Instead of chanting “One Big Fight!” we were chanting “Luto!” during the second quarter of a lopsided game. The surprise though, was the fact that a lot of Ateneans were watching the games live. We always supported our team. Problem was, a lot of them were fair-weathered fans who would not give it their all to cheer. Since the games were horribly lopsided, they never got to cheer.
2006
Situation: La Salle was suspended. Ateneo dominated the regular season only to get upset in the Finals
How the Lasallians Behaved: Wala na nga kami, hindi pa rin kayo maka-champion?
How the Ateneans Behaved: At least, hindi kami suspended. Kidding aside, the Ateneo Faithful cheered heavily that year. I can still remember experiencing the Upper B section rock whenever “Go Ateneo!” cheer was played. Thank God, The Big Dome did not collapse. The “One Big Fight” days were over. “Go Ateneo” was the Ateneans’ favorite cheer. It did not matter if La Salle was not playing that year. It was still hard to get tickets in the Finals. However, I have to admit that our opponents were hungrier. UST outcheered us in that Game 3.
2007
How the Lasallians Behaved: Coming from suspension, they had a monkey at their backs. Their cheering was unspectacular but was sufficient. For the second time in my life, I got to sit in their side. This time around, they were less hostile. Less inappropriate words were blurted, but their fans were still passionate. But with Ateneo winning three games out of five, Lasallians had less confidence as compared to years past. Chris Tiu was shooting last second daggers into their hearts. Ateneo was the King of Clutch for three straight years then and Tiu was quickly becoming a part of the discussion in the Most Clutch College Player Ever. DLSU fans had to hold their breaths whenever the ball was dished to a suddenly wide open Chris Tiu. It was a sure three for Ateneo.
This year also marked the second time I experienced the La Salle gallery chanting another school’s name (NU). They were so thankful of NU. Funny, how a proud and confident crowd would suddenly root for another school just to mock their rivals. Overall, they were still doing fine as our antagonists. They still had the cocky attitude. Remember the THES-QS banner? Through the past years, I could just blame the La Salle crowd for supporting their cocky players (something that I would also do if I was on their side). But, that banner was their low point as they tried to boast their rankings – something that they were not able to hold in the ensuing years.
How the Ateneans Behaved: If La Salle was cocky with the THES-QS incident, we were not on the high horse either. This was the year when Tony Atayde wrote his infamous rants on how the Ateneo crowd behaved. His article was (as usual) covered with blind biases. He was dubbed as St. Atayde by Ateneans because of how he whined on how crass the Ateneans were with the cursing the fans did. Yeah right, Mr. Atayde, as if your Lasallian friends never swore during games. It is not commendable, but it is normal in basketball games, you know.
However, the low point for Ateneo was chanting “Suspended” at La Salle. It was rubbing salt to injury (even if it was a fact). Not a bright moment for us (yes, I admit I was one of ‘em rotten apples who chanted). Then of course, we chanted “Wrong Spelling!” after the brainfart in the Cheer Dance Competition. It resulted to funny jokes during that time. La Salle was called “VL Salle.” If there was one year where Lasallians can make a good example that Ateneans are not always ethically correct in games, this would be that year. The “Suspended” karma hit us back as La Salle became the eventual champions that year.
On a side note, “Luto” chants still frequented the UAAP games then.
From an anxious crowd, Ateneo began to gain some swagger. Yes, we failed a lot those years but we were a Final Four staple. We knew how to win. The only concern was, we were always unlucky.
2008
Situation: Ateneo dominated the league. The Finals featured the most recent Ateneo-La Salle championship game we’ve had. The Blue Eagles trounced the defending champs.
How Lasallians Behaved: After rumors went out that Ryan Buenafe received more than a million pesos, Lasallites called him “Buenapay.” Coming from a championship season, it was easier for the Greenies to accept the fact that Ateneo will finally win the championship. Not all though, some Lasallians wished that they finally get their turn at beating Ateneo in the Finals with their “Kami Naman” mentality. My reaction to that was: “WTF?! You guys just won the championship a year ago and you are already complaining that you’re not yet that blessed. How will you guys get satisfied?” But then, that was what fueled Franz Pumaren’s La Salle teams – they always felt that they got shortchanged, are not getting what they deserved to have, or what we call “feeling api.” Psychologically, it was effective because it drove hunger and desire within them. However, it irked us, non-Lasallians.
How Ateneans Behaved: The Blue Eagles dominated, but the Ateneo faithful were prepared for a potential bad ending. After all, that was the common theme for six straight years. With JV Casio leading La Salle and with a young FEU squad competing, it was tough to say that the crown was ours for the taking. Ateneo was still great in clutch but this year began the Domination Era for the Blue and White. Most of our games were boring because of the huge leads. I am not complaining though. Consistent large leads are good indicators that your team has what it takes to win the championship. And of course, Ateneo was highly known as a defensive squad. The crowd also took the cue from the team. Six years back, the threes and the dunks provided the biggest crowd pops but in 2008, the Baclao blocks and the rebounds gained great appreciation from the Ateneans.
When Ateneo won the championship, Lasallites mocked them by saying, “after six years pa uli bago kayo mag-champion.”
Not everything was bright for the Blue and White that year. The lame bonfire incident overshadowed some of our celebration. La Salle players’ names were written in wood and were burned. Some Lasallians, of course, capitalized on it by overblowing it though. But still, it was not a commendable act.
2009
Situation: Sorry, Lasallians. 2009 was a bitter pill to swallow. Not only did Ateneo dominate the league for the second straight year, DLSU tasted its first elimination since the Final Four format started.
How Lasallians Behaved: Defeat and acceptance. I know it is strange to see a fanbase which experienced a championship two years ago feeling this down. But, it was true. DLSU might have won the championship after their suspension year, but the effects on their basketball program happened years after. They outright lost in the recruitment wars as high school studs went to Ateneo. La Salle may have gotten Arvie Bringas, but DLSU’s coaching staff struggled in honing their bulky big men. The good thing about an institution that got immersed with winning is that, the Lasallians knew how to accept it when their team is bad. A Lasallite even turned it into comedy by making a Youtube video of Hitler ranting on DLSU’s demise.
Some Lasallians knew that the Ateneo Blue Eagles were the better team. Much respect for those who accepted this fact.
How Ateneans Behaved: For years, what made UAAP interesting for Ateneans was the fact that we could defeat the green school from Taft. There was even a saying, “matalo na sa lahat, wag lang sa La Salle.” Thanks to 2006, we learned to live without our green foes. In 2009, Ateneans could care less about the Green Archers (except maybe when NU eliminated the Archers). With the slogan “defend the crown,” Ateneans cared more on retaining the title. Defense was more emphasized as the crowd knows the right times when to energize the team. However, the signature fan moment of the year was the voluntary work to help the Ondoy victims. Some supporters who watched Game 1 of the Finals went back to their school to pack up goods for the Ondoy victims.
2010
Situation: Fielding a relatively weaker team, Ateneo experienced its first defeat from La Salle after seven games in more than two years. However, the Blue Eagles were built with chemistry. They destroyed their green foes in the second round. In the end, the Mighty Eagle defended the throne.
How Lasallians Behaved: Getting dominated in two years tarnished their confidence. They are still avid supporters – that is what a great basketball tradition can do to you. But, the angas factor was dwindling. For starters, Franz Pumaren is not anymore at the helm. His brother, Dindo, is the humbler Pumaren. The swagger of the team influences the fans. When La Salle upset Ateneo in the first round last year, they rejoiced but they had that cautious confidence in them. They knew that this Ateneo squad is still for real.
Tides have changed. A few years back, Ateneans were whining and complaining on referee calls. It helped that Norman Black’s coaching staff had been more restrained since 2008. It seeped into the crowd and we heard fewer complaints from the Ateneo faithful. This time though, the green gallery complained heavily. As an observant, I noticed that bad calls always happen. It happens on both sides, and whining about them does not do anyone any good. Whiners never win. We complained a lot before 2008. Our championship number then: Zero. DLSU complained a lot in 2008 to 2010. They never won the title in this time frame.
But then, I do not fully blame the DLSU crowd for complaining. It is a job of a fanbase to sway the referees to their favor. It happens in NBA. The problem in UAAP though is, there are two fanbases watching a game. The less complaining you are, the more the referees would empathize with you.
How Ateneans Behaved: Remember the Lasallian who proclaimed that they would be having a bonfire even if they have yet to win two Final games in 2002? Ateneans were more confident than that guy. A year before, Ryan Buenafe and Nico Salva were interviewed in the 2009 bonfire. They were asked on how they think the Blue Eagles will fare in 2010. Their response was, “basta alam ko may bonfire uli dito next year.” That is what multiple championships give you.
Personally, I never felt threatened last year. FEU swept us in the eliminations but I trusted the Blue Eagles so much that it did not matter if we lost the last regular season game. I knew that the team was so much better than what their regular season record showed. Watching them demolish FEU in Game 1 was like a dream come true. We already had the swagger. The Ateneo crowd may not be as energetic as the masochistic crowd in the mid 2000s was, but we were a confident bunch who knew how it feels and how to react when winning.
Side Note: I think Ateneo is deeply talented this year. With the sudden emergence of Tonino Gonzaga, it is hard to stop the Blue Team. However, there is one missing piece of the puzzle. I think it is Justin Chua. He was able to deliver a bit last Sunday but it is nowhere near his 2010 run. I think his morale is not that high as he has been relegated to the bench role. However, he must understand that he is a vital part of the team. The Second Team usually struggles in scoring and it is important for Justin to realize that he should be the focal point of that lineup the same way Jason Terry, Ryan Buenafe and Eric Salamat embraced the Sixth Man role. I see tentativeness in Chua’s play last weekend. I think he can still improve from that. He should remember that he had a superb year last year. As defenses begin to strategize against Greg Slaughter, Justin Chua should realize that he can be called upon to play heavy minutes every now and then. Don’t be complacent, Justin. Magis.
2011
Situation: Ateneo is destroying everything in its path thus far. The team is stronger than ever with the additions of Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter. It largely helped that Nico Salva and Eman Monfort have immensely matured. The player that I bashed as a one-dimensional scorer is now a great playmaker who has great basketball IQ. Times indeed have changed.
How Lasallians Behaved: They are a pretty depressed bunch. They went to the Round 2 game resigned to the fact that they might lose. OK, not all of them, but the attendance numbers speak for itself. There were even rumors that they returned some tickets. Their General Admission section was empty. The attendance seemed like a 70-30 split. La Salle’s once confident crowd could not muster to boo our initial cheer. I have grown to know that Lasallites lustily boo Ateneans at every opportunity they could as long as they are not losing.
The Green Side’s swagger was completely lost. They did have crowd pops when they were scoring but it was not as intense as before. Maybe, I was just too confident with the fact that we were winning that game. But, I have watched these greenies for years. I have seen them getting outnumbered yet they could cheer with conviction and intimidation. The fact that they could not start a wave just showed that they were not enjoying the game.
How Ateneans Behaved: Not really proud of these but these are what I observed: Complacency and Confidence. Boredom at times. Gone are the days when the Ateneo crowd gets pumped up after the Blue Babble Batallion screams the first “One Big Fight!” We may have outnumbered our opponents, but a lot in attendance were fair-weathered fans. Or, they are just bored. It did not help that the Blue Babble people were having a hard time in energizing the fans. Or, they are just complacent. After all, people are saving their screams for most of the game because we are winning this game, right? When I was cheering, it was ironically similar to my experience during the blowouts of 2004 and 2005 (when I was the only stupid fan cheering in my area). Only this time, we were the ones who were leading.
As for confidence, Ateneans had it. Syempre, mayabang ang Atenista, ‘di ba? When La Salle began their first cheer, the blue gallery responded with… wait for it… claps. That was insanely funny. The Ateneo crowd was not intimidated by the measly La Salle crowd that the response was a sarcastic clap. In my opinion, it was a very good form of mocking. It enrages and humiliates the opposing crowd at the same time. It does not come off as rude but it also gives off a feeling that you are belittling your opponents. It is like doing you opponents’ cheers on a sure-win game. Times have indeed changed. Years back, we had the passionate but nervous crowd.
This brings me to my main point (yeah, after a long writeup, I finally arrived here). Ateneo is winning these days but I am quite alarmed of our overall complacency. The Blue Eagles seemed overconfident when they began the game last Sunday. The Green Archers were well-prepared as they blitzed to the basket at every opportunity. Their press defense is sloppy but their fastbreak points were high. It was in the third quarter when Ateneo realized that they are in a competitive basketball game.
Complacency might be a huge weakness as we near the final stretch. The behavior of the team sometimes seeps into the fans. The Blue Babble Batallion was not effective in timing their cheers. There was too much “Fabilioh” (a cheer that most fans do not know) and too few of “Go Ateneo! One Big Fight.” “Go Ateneo” should be delivered during high momentum moments. Where is “Artillery Yell?” I know I am nitpicking during a victorious moment. You may even go back at me and say, “you won three championships in recent years, what are you complaining at?”
I am complaining at complacency. Ateneo-La Salle games are usually full of passion. I know that the team is doing the best it can to win the fourth title, but as fans who attend the games, it is our role to uplift the team in any possible way we can. Norman Black usually states he feels that there is homecourt advantage in every Ateneo game. Let us make our team feel it by cheering like there is no tomorrow. Magis, Ateneans!
Remember, things change through time. La Salle has fallen from their past glory. I hope that this is a reminder for us, Ateneans, that we must savor the moment and make the most out of it. One big fight!
No comments:
Post a Comment