SCROLLING THROUGH one’s social media feed while an Ateneo game is happening makes missing the hundreds of posts and tweets with #OBF or #GoAteneo near impossible. Posts, tweets, and shares come through at dizzying rates every second, with everyone scrambling to partake in the festivities through livestreams or just through the tweets on their feeds.
Often, those who dedicate most of their time and energy to committed and accurate coverage are those who are not even professionally tasked to do so—their love for the sport, the team, or the school that they have inclines them to deliver blow-by-blow reports and support. A majority of them handle Twitter accounts, most—if not all—with some sort of Ateneo or Ateneo-adjacent branding in their handles or names. They are not recognized necessarily as partners of the school, but are respected because of their undying support and for rallying behind the teams.
For the Ateneo
One of these accounts dedicated to supporting the Ateneo and its athletics is Team AMDG (@TeamAMDG), a Twitter account created in January 2014 for the primary purpose of supporting and shining a light towards the various Ateneo varsity teams. Christian* graduated from the Ateneo with a degree in Legal Management. “Having been an Atenean all my life and my passion for sports automatically made me a very loyal supporter of Ateneo teams, regardless if I play the sport myself or not,” he says.
Over the years, Twitter has become one of the go-to options for breaking sports-related news, and Team AMDG has been at the forefront of this effort for the Ateneo. The account has established rock-solid relationships with many of the varsity team’s respective social media accounts as well as numerous school officials, giving Team AMDG direct access to news when it comes out. “What I am very happy about is that even if I do not know many of these individuals personally, my “online relationship” with them has reached a point where information can be exchanged freely,” Christian adds.
Team AMDG is just one of many Twitter accounts dedicated to supporting either the school, a team, an individual athlete, or a mix of the three. In Christian’s case, the support displayed through the account demonstrates a sense of Atenean pride, and how that pride stays even after graduating from the school. “I always maintain that as members of the Ateneo community, we all belong to just one team,” Christian shares.
For the love of the game
However, the support of the non-Atenean should not be discounted. In fact, it can be argued that the Ateneo’s teams–most notably in basketball and volleyball–receive more support from non-Ateneans. Popular athletes such as volleyball star Alyssa Valdez can boast of having a handful of fan accounts dedicated to supporting their efforts both on and off the court.
It can also be argued that there are more non-Ateneans in attendance during Ateneo games, either to support their favorite athletes, the school, or the growth of college athletics in general. Blue Babble Battalion member Ivan Ubalde noticed this trend—a trend especially noticeable during volleyball tournaments—whenever he and the Battalion went to games. “Even though some of these fans are not necessarily Ateneans, what matters is that they would still cheer for Ateneo and its players,” he says.
The support of these athletes is at an all-time high, and that is in no small part due to social media. Former GMA News Sports writer Ignacio Razon says the emergence of the technology as a communication platform has only enhanced the ability of a person to talk about and discuss their favorite teams and players. “They can create their own analysis of the game and share their insight with people who share their sentiments,” he says.
Social media has definitely morphed the way fans enjoy sports, making it easier for them to connect with their idols online. “The accessibility and convenience of social media makes it easier for fans to create their own subgroups,” Razon says. “Given that these are outsiders who aren’t within the circle of Ateneans, it’s easier for them to make their own way that can somehow still connect to the Ateneo community.”
With such technology allowing users a more intimate experience with their favorite athletes, there is no better time to cheer for the Blue and White, whether or not one is Atenean.
*Editor’s Note: Name has been changed at the request of the interviewee. Ignacio Razon is also a former Sports Editor of The GUIDON.
