The Ateneo Bonfire Incident.

The recent UAAP season 72 has been controversial. Aside from having the archrival, La Salle and Ateneo, compete for the men’s senior basketball crown, there were also issues regarding why the green archers didn’t get their trophy during the awarding and that the last game was said to be “Luto” by some Lasallians and green archers’ fans. (Just for the record: The green archer team were in the locker room during the awarding and nobody did mind to call them to get their award- that’s according to Coach Franz Pumaren.) After the game, I thought it would all be over. Except for the rivalry of the two colors, of course, it would always be there to light up the “friendly competition” of both schools. So okay. They won, we’ve lost.

BUT. It didn’t end there. Just recently, hot issue (I mean literally “hot”) came up smoking in the internet, through the blogs, multiply and even forum sites of some Lasallians and Ateneans.  I’m pertaining to the bonfire event in Katipunan. I know that it was a celebration for the Ateneo community for winning the championship after all the hardwork of the team (including the investment of MVP to have their training in LA with some of the best basketball gurus). However, I think it was a foul and below the belt to put the name of some of the green archers, the coach, the staffs and even some of our brothers on their bonfire woods. I also heard that some also burned green shirts. Duh! What for? You’ve already won the championship. If ever they’ve lost I would understand why they acted that way. Just like what my friend have said “Putek! Foul yun!”. Proofs and evidences are all over the net. And here are some of the pics. (credits to Carmel)

I know that some of our players are arrogant but they don’t deserve it especially our brothers. As far as I can remember we never celebrated championship that way. We don’t put names of other players on our bonfire woods and burn blue shirts. For us, the way we celebrate championships were all food, dance, picture taking and concert.

Sorry if ever I offended anybody here in my post but I was just hurt and offended by this act. I know Ateneo is a good school and have produced some respectable personalities. I’m not generalizing the Ateneo community but whoever did this it was really unethical and really below the belt. It was not funny at all. It had offended the Lasallian community especially the students. Huh. Sorry. Really sorry. I don’t know how to end this post so let me end this way. Quoting another Lasallian- “You’ve got the crown, We’ve got the respect!”

DLSU vs ADMU – UAAP Season 71

I was about to sleep when I read this from Philz’ multiply whom she got from other else’s account.

By now, you would have experienced gale force winds in Katipunan. Or you would have read articles in newspapers or blogs proclaiming the greatness of this season 71 edition of the Blue Eagles, Rabeh, Chris Tiu, Buenafe et al. They will also criticize our Archers as pikon and lacking class for not receiving their runner-up trophy, so perhaps we should be prepared with the facts.

1. While UP is the host of Season 71, they selected the Narvasa Brothers (both former Blue Eagle varsity players) who were directly responsible for the referees.

2. Commissioner Chito Narvasa penalized La Salle and Coach Franz Pumaren during the first La Salle-Ateneo regular season game for not wearing his ID and gave two free throws to Ateneo. This inspite of Coach Pido Jarencio of UST being shown not wearing his ID during the earlier game and not being penalized.

3. During two regular games during the season, one versus FEU and the other against UST, referees who called technical fouls against La Salle’s opponents were punished by Narvasa after the game with a termination and one with a suspension.

4. During the the final championship game, Buenafe, Jobe and other Ateneans could be seen taunting and trash talking but were not penalized.

5. The referees called 29 fouls on the Archers and only 13 fouls against the Blue Eagles. They awarded 28 free throws (18 which were converted) to Ateneo and only 8 free throws to the Green Archers.

6. The phantom finger of Rico was not clearly evident and since there was no reaction from the Eagles, it must not have happened.

7. The Green Archers were in the dugout during the awarding and no official from the UAAP called them out to receive their award.

Finally, if the Ateneans wanted to win with honor, they failed to do so. The Ateneo community should have asked the Narvasas to inhibit themselves due to their school history and obvious bias towards La Salle.

I will concede the first three La Salle-Ateneo games in Season 71 to the Blue Eagles. But we will never know the outcome of game 2 of the Championship series.because the referees panicked when La Salle reduced a 15 point half-time deficit to three at the end of the 3rd period.

Agree ako sa sinabi ng friend ko na “What’s done is done. Let Ateneo have their championship and I believe they deserve it. Di ko lang gusto ung pagkapanalo nila nung game 2.”

Pati mga kilala kong Atenista ay hindi rin gusto yung pagkapanalo nila nung game 2.

What more can I say. Congratz Ateneo.

ANIMO LA SALLE!

KEEP THE FAITH!

BABAWI TAYO NEXT SEASON, SABI NI RICO M. coz he will be back in season 72!!