I flip-flopped so many times prior to the game.

I made this clear to anyone who asked me that the referees can and most likely will mess up this game. I don’t know if they’ll do it on their own, if they’re in the pocket of the opposing team, the league, the venue, the sponsors, or if they’re just plain incapable of managing a game. I just had a huge feeling that they would interfere, that they would postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the celebration, the bonfire, the fourth stripe.

Ateneo fans everywhere knew this. Some La Salle fans were banking on this. But to the Blue Eagle fans who knew this, yet believed nonetheless, they deserve to be commended. Coach Norman Black knew it was likely, and crafted together a team that would buck the odds and buck the referees.

See, a great offense can be laid to its knees by fouls to its best player. A great defense on the other hand, with principles that were kept close to heart by the entire team, from the first five to the last man on the bench.

And yet, I forgot this, and a lot of other Ateneans forgot this as well. When the game started and La Salle zoomed to a 5-0 lead, triggered by turnovers from Chris Tiu and fouls from Rabeh Al-Hussaini, I cursed the television screen, the referees, even the Blue Eagles.

Oh, me of little faith.

Despite Al-Hussaini sitting out the rest of the first half, Ateneo zoomed ahead with a 13-2 run to end the first quarter, 16-10. In the second quarter, the onslaught continued, and Chris Tiu fired seven straight points and a 13 point first half performance to enter the locker rooms midway through the game with a 15 point lead, 41-26. Yes, Ateneo shot 65% from the field, the more important statistic however, is that once again, La Salle could not score. 29 points midway will not get you a 70 point win.

It was in the third quarter that character came into play, a trait Ateneo players had displayed all season long. When La Salle whittled the lead down to six behind sizzling shooting from Jayvee Casio, it would have been easy for the Blue Eagles to crack first.

Instead, it was the team on a run that gave in to pressure.

Already with one technical foul to his name, Rico Maierhofer was ejected with 1:31 remaining because of what appeared to be him giving the Ateneo crowd and Al-Hussaini the middle finger.

Think about that for a second. Think about the implications of such an act.

Replays were pixelated and inconclusive, but the referee was steadfast. Maierhofer, later on, would defend himself saying that he was flashing his index finger, telling Casio which way to go on defense.

Let’s ignore the fact that Casio was nowhere to be seen, or that people normally do not point directions at another underhanded. If the referee got this wrong, then this is a call based on reputation, not just of a single player, but of the team from a particular school. Think about that for a second. Had Tiu done the same, perplexing move, would we err more on the side of “he’s just giving directions” or “he’s giving the finger?”

Sometimes, nice guys win, after all.

It was all downhill from there. Casio would give up his fourth foul as the third quarter wound down. In a messy fourth quarter in which Ateneo got by on free throws and where La Salle center PJ Walsham made the team’s only two field goals, it was but elementary to deduce that Ateneo would hang on and win. With a chance to carry the team on his shoulders, Casio would pick up his fifth foul, and end his UAAP career.

The six-year wait was finally over. 2008 belonged to the Blue Eagles.

Thank you Rabeh Al-Hussaini, regular season MVP. I know I doubted you a lot of times, but you have matured into the player you are today.

Thank you Chris Tiu, who, when we needed miracles, have always provided. It was a great five-year run and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you Nonoy Baclao, Finals MVP, defensive anchor, last line of defense, and do-it-all. You were made for this team and this team was made for you.

Thank you Ryan Buenafe, Rookie of the Year, simply fearless and unflappable in the face of taller players. I hope this championship validated your choice to come to this school. I can’t wait for you to lead us to another title.

Thank you Jai Reyes, former Rookie of the Year. When you came into the league, you were an undersized shooting guard. Coach Black converted you into a point guard and we never looked back.

Thank you Eric Salamat, Yuri Escueta, Kirk Long, and Bacon Austria, for guarding some of the most explosive shooters in the league, playing tough defense, going for the passing lanes and fighting through the presses.

Thank you Mike Baldos and Jobe Nkemakolam, for going up against giants and never backing down.

Thank you Nico Salva, Vince Burke, and Justin Chua. You’ve felt it already, winning the championship on your first year. You will have your chance, and when it’s time, we’ll be there with you all the way.

Thank you Tonino Gonzaga and Chris Sumalinog, for being good teammates, never complaining, and always being ready. Perhaps one day, your number will be called and you’ll go out there and show us all the talent that’s inside of you.

Thank you Coach Norman Black. Thank you for putting up with the expectations, the alumni and the entire community. Thank you for your recruiting skills, your calm and collected demeanor, and most of all, your commitment to team basketball and defense, the things that defined this Blue Eagles team.

I shouldn’t have doubted any of you. I should have known that in the face of adversity, you would all give us one big fight.

Adrian Dy (BS CTM ’08) was the Editor in Chief of Chinoy, the official Publication of Ateneo Celadon. He is currently a regular contributor to the 2bU! and Super! sections of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and a high school English teacher in Xavier School.