GROWING UP with athletic siblings, Luca Alleje, JD Mercado, Patrick Maagdenberg, and Dominic Juan are no strangers to the highs and lows of inter-family competition in the realm of sports. While most families tend to cheer for the same intercollegiate team, these four Ateneans have the unique experience of representing the Blue and White while also rooting for their siblings from rival schools. Apart from the excitement brought about by school rivalries, competing against family motivates these athletes to push beyond their limits

Sharing the pitch

In Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), Luca Alleje took the collegiate football scene by storm after making the two goal-scoring assists that clinched the football championship for the Blue and White. While Luca’s rookie season paved the way for his journey as Ateneo’s budding striker, it also marked the beginning of an inter-school rivalry against his twin brother, Arturo.

For 11 years, the Alleje twins pursued football while playing for the same school. Although their brotherhood and long history on the pitch strengthened their chemistry as teammates, the pair decided to forge new paths in the collegiate football scene. As Luca geared up for the Blue and White, Arturo pledged loyalty to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. 

Having marked their own territories on opposite sides of Katipunan, the Allejes inevitably faced each other as rivals in an epic Season 81 round one matchup between Ateneo and UP. Despite their tight-knit relationship at home, the Blue Eagle was no pushover against his twin brother. “I didn’t make adjustments. I had to give my best shot because I knew he was going to [do the same]. Whatever happens in the field stays in the field,” Luca voiced. Ultimately, Arturo’s team outplayed Ateneo, 2-1.

Although the twins remain rivals on the pitch, at home they are each other’s biggest support system. “Even if we’re opponents, we motivate each other. When I see him slacking, I call him out for it, and he does the same for me. We [also] play on the field and do drills [together],” voiced Season 81 Champion Luca. 

At the end of the day, the twins are united not only by their brotherhood, but by a shared dream. “We’ve been talking about it. We want to dominate college football, especially in our last two years,” shared Luca.

While the cancellation of Season 83 and the abrupt end to Season 82 has denied the pair another head-to-head matchup, the twins continue to work hard for the eventual return of sporting events in the country.

Staying on track

Unlike team sports like football, throwing events in track and field are individual affairs. However, Blue Eagle JD Mercado was never alone in the sport having grown up with fellow throwers at home. Ever since JD learned to throw in grade school, he has represented the Blue and White in various track and field competitions alongside his older twin brothers, Ardy and Thirdy.

Throughout their five-year stint as teammates, the three brothers successfully established themselves as a promising force within and beyond Ateneo’s throwing scene. In the UAAP Juniors’ Division, the trio collectively garnered nine medals in their hammer, shot put, and discus events. However, while donning the Blue and White was a bonding experience for the Mercados, Ardy and Thirdy eventually bid farewell to their youngest sibling to pursue their dream courses in UP.

On the other hand, JD continued to represent Ateneo upon entering college. “I decided to stay because I felt like I still had more to give. I [have] always wanted to win a UAAP gold medal representing the Blue and White. It’s a dream of mine [that] I hope to accomplish before I graduate [from college],” he shared. While the Blue Eagle still has two more years to fulfill his dream, the abrupt cancellation of Season 83 has blown off his chances of competing against his graduating brothers in the UAAP.

Although the trio can no longer best each other’s throwing distances from the cage, they still spend quality time doing track and field related workouts at home. “We actually built our own home gym in the basement. We spot each other. We’re [also] trying to focus on our weaknesses since we have time to do [that],” said JD.

More than having athletic siblings to push him at home, the youngest Mercado is most grateful for the guidance and constant support given to him by his older brothers. “Track and field is so mental, you need to cling onto something to be driven. I [am] blessed [to have] two brothers who keep pushing me forward and who motivate me. Their performances alone and the tips they gave were really beneficial to my becoming an athlete,” he shared.

From one league to another

Similar to the Mercados, a tale of three brothers also exists within basketball. In 2017 and 2019, Ateneo saw the entry of Patrick and Edward Maagdenberg into the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT). While they have made their mark in the AMBT’s Team A and B respectively, their other brother, Emmanuel, continues to challenge both siblings despite competing for Enderun Colleges. 

Although Emmanuel plays in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU), Patrick shared that he and his little brother still get to play against each other from time to time. “[Emmanuel] and myself definitely get real heated sometimes when we play one-on-one, but it’s a good environment to be in because you get better everyday,” voiced the Season 82 champion. Being in different leagues has also allowed the pair to coach each other about their opponents and share tips to improve each other’s games. 

Beyond the ball game, the two older Maagdenbergs also share a special bond that was formed when they found a new home in a foreign country. “Eman [and I] moved to the Philippines around the same time, [so] we had to be real independent. We kinda like, leaned on each other a lot for those first couple years before Ed came,” expressed Patrick.

While the brothers have found a home in the Philippines, the cancellation of on-site classes earlier this year has provided them with an opportunity to return to New Zealand. Unlike in Manila, they are able to train more freely abroad as access to gyms and basketball courts have less restrictions.

With all three Maagdenbergs training together at full force, one can expect the trio to ball out in their return for the coming UAAP and NAASCU seasons.

A rivalry of their own

While the Maagdenbergs have become steady forces in college basketball, the Juans are taking their universities to new heights in the country’s esports scene. Since the release of Riot Games’ Valorant in June, Loyola Gaming Esports’ Dominic “LG Skwamy” Juan and younger brother Xavier “Xavi8k” Juan from the De La Salle University Viridis Arcus Esports (DLSU VA) have actively participated in various local and international tourneys. While both brothers have become key players in their respective teams, their passion for video games began long before donning different school colors.

Prior to Valorant, the Juans were united in their passion for first-person shooter games having formerly shared an Xbox 360 and a personal computer. When they were not taking turns playing Halo 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops, or Counter-Strike, they were each other’s teammates in these games. Even as they grew older and joined separate university teams, they continued to bond over esports. “We sometimes play ranked together. When we are not playing games, we like talking about the esports scene in North America and the various teams there. But [during] tourney season, we train more with our respective teams,” voiced Dominic.

In the past three months alone, the pair have already faced off against each other in the grand finals of the Esports AcadArena (EAA) University Alliance Cup 2020 and the 2020 Cyberathlete Valorant Collegiate Invitational (CVCI) Philippine Qualifier tournament, where DLSU VA ultimately secured both pole positions.

Regardless of the outcomes in their past matches and the existing rivalry between Blue and Green, Dominic takes pride in his younger brother’s performance and continues to look forward to his future in the sport. “Being the older brother and graduating, I fully support his gaming career. Since he is a freshman, he has so much potential to grow and take advantage of the opportunities presented to him such as scholarships, educational grants, and prizes from tourneys,” shared the elder Juan. 

While these opportunities may soon be out of reach for Dominic, he can be assured that the Juan family name will continue to dominate the esports scene in the years to come.

A true band of brothers

Behind the successes and high spirits of these Blue Eagles are brothers who don different school colors. While they may be rivals in the intercollegiate sports scene, they are each other’s greatest support system at home. In their years competing away from and even against each other, these brothers prove that sometimes, siblings must divide in order to dominate as individuals in their respective sports.