1988 duel keys Ateneo-La Salle rivalry

The memorable final encounter between Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University in 1988 gave birth to one of the greatest rivalries in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

In an episode of Down to the Wire podcast recently, no less than former La Salle coach Derick Pumaren revealed that they consider Ateneo as their old rivals in the National Collegiate Athletic Association but the bad blood boiled during their final battle in Season 51 35 years ago.

He said emotions were high as they were determined to win their first UAAP crown after coming off a dominant campaign in an inter-collegiate tourney and still fresh from bolting out the NCAA.
But Ateneo — the reigning champion — blocked their path.

At that time, the Blue Eagles were a powerhouse team. They had towering stars like 6-foot-7 Danny Francisco, Eric Reyes and Alex Araneta aside from skipper Jun Reyes, Seth Canlas and Jett Nieto.

They also had a new coach in Fritz Gaston, a crucial part of the great Ateneo team that won the 1977 title under head coach Baby Dalupan.

"We entered the UAAP in 1986," Pumaren said in the weekly sports show of Daily Tribune.

"Then in 1987, we didn't emerge on top but we won the National Inter-Collegiate Championship. So, coming into 1988 season, expectations were high, but Ateneo was bigger, taller and more solid with Danny, Eric and Alex Araneta," said Pumaren, who coached La Salle from 1986 to 1991 before making a return three years ago.

"Then of course, they have their team captain in Jun Reyes. Ateneo has a very formidable lineup. They also had Canlas and Nieto. But experiencing the
Ateneo-La Salle was like a big fuss because I wasn't able to experience that before until the 1988 finals."

Behind Pumaren's younger brother, Dindo, Johnedel Cardel, Dickie Bachmann and Joey Sta. Maria, La Salle made a solid run, winning 11 of its 14 matches in the eliminations.

But Ateneo, despite figuring in a free-for-all fight in the crucial stretch of the preliminaries, couldn't be denied as it wrapped up the eliminations with a 12-2 win-loss record.

Armed with twice-to-beat edges, both the Blue Eagles and the Green Archers made short work of University of the Philippines and Adamson in the Final Four to set the stage for a dramatic finale at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

"It was an oven-hot atmosphere. The players and spectators were drenched in sweat," Francisco said. The Green Archers roared early, racing to a 10-point lead behind the hot hands of the younger Pumaren.

Ateneo, however, fired back and kept the scores close until forging a 66-all deadlock entering the final stretch.

Dindo closed the gap to four points at 74–70, with two free throws off a Nieto foul, but the Blue Eagles tightened their defensive screws to preserve the lead until Francisco sealed the final count from the charity stripe, 76-70, sparking a massive celebration from the Atenean gallery.

All in all, La Salle and Ateneo clashed in the NCAA and UAAP finals nine times with supporters of both schools — composed mostly of business leaders, politicians, celebrities and prominent alumni, dividing the Smart Araneta Coliseum into a sea of blue and green.

The Blue Eagles won the men's basketball title over La Salle in 1958, 1988, 2002, 2008, and 2017 while the Green Archers prevailed in 1939, 1974, 2001, and 2016.

But Francisco stressed that the rivalry is no longer as hot as before.

"We expected it to become bigger," Francisco said.

"Even prior to our generation, we were already aware of that old rivalry. During our generation, it was even heightened because La Salle also transferred to the UAAP. La Salle didn't come to the UAAP at the bottom of the standings. They were already highly-competitive."

"Years after us, it was heightened even more. But recently, given the technological advances, the environment they played in, more fan base and social media, things are no longer what it used to be."