Ateneo-La Salle rivalry still sizzles
The matches between these schools are still as exciting as before, but with the level of competition the other schools have learned to adapt, every game and every team should be treated as your rival
Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin does not agree that its rivalry game with De La Salle University has already lost its luster following the domination of the Blue Eagles while the Green Archers are still in a rebuilding mode.
Although they are miles apart in the team standings, Baldwin said the Ateneo-La Salle encounter this Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena will remain a blockbuster offering in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
The 9-0 Blue Eagles will be gunning for the first Final Four slot against the 4-4 Green Archers, who are back in the semifinal chase after winning their last two games.
And Baldwin knows their second-round meeting against the Green Archers will be much different compared to their 81-69 victory in the first round on 8 September, the first game of active consultant Jermaine Byrd with the green and white squad.
“The matches between these schools are still as exciting as before, but with the level of competition, the other schools have learned to adapt, every game and every team should be treated as your rival,” Baldwin said.
“We respect what coach Byrd has done and what their coaching staff has done. I won’t expect anything but a great and tough game,” the American-Kiwi mentor furthered.
In Season 82, the highest gate attendance in the first round was the game between the Blue Eagles and University of the Philippines that drew 19,861 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and some are saying that this rivalry is the newest box office hit in the UAAP.
But Baldwin said no rivalry could still match what the two chief nemeses can bring inside the court.
And it will continue regardless if there’s a balance or none in them.
“This will go on and on and on. The crowd of both teams are hyped every time these two teams go at it on the court and this just makes the league a great avenue for the players to improve their skills,” Baldwin said.