Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Rivalry rises this Easter Sunday
THE historic rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle takes a significant meaning on Easter Sunday when college basketball’s most bitter nemesis play against each other for a charity cause and on a profesional level.
Former Blue Eagles and Green Archers currently playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will comprise the rosters of the two teams that will see action in the one-game showdown set March 23 at the Araneta Coliseum and presented by Yakult.
An undertaking by the PBA headed by commissioner Sonny Barrios and the Board of Governors chaired by Tony Chua, the project’s proceeds will go directly to the Players’ Educational Trustfund.
Comprising the Ateneo side to be coached by Talk N‘ Text mentor Chot Reyes are Enrico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier, JC Intal, Paolo Bugia, Wesley Gonzales, LA Tenorio, Doug Kramer, Macky Escalona, Magnum Membrere, Gec Chia and veteran Olsen Racela.
To be coached by Barangay Ginebra’s Jong Uichico, La Salle will be made up of RenRen Ritualo, Don Allado, Mark Telan, Mark Cardona, Mike Cortez, Adonis Sta. Maria, Ryan Arana, Carlo Sharma, Willie Wilson, Joseph Yeo, JunJun Cabatu and JR Aquino.
The core of the Eagles’ lineup is comprised of the Ateneo squad that annexed the 2002 UAAP men’s basketball championship, while the Archers’ nucleus is a mixture of players that won title rings during La Salle’s reign from 1998-2001 and those that made the Finals in 2004 and 2005.
“This is going to be a great endeavor not only for basketball fans, especially supporters of La Salle and Ateneo, but also for a good cause,” said Chua, also team manager of Red Bull.
La Salle-Ateneo goes a long, long way and is considered the most frenzied rivalry in all of Philippine basketball. It has its roots in the NCAA in the late 1930’s and then extended to the UAAP in the mid-1980s up to the present. (PBA Media Bureau)
