LIKE FUEL to a fire, a strong rivalry can always ignite the competitive spirit, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Certainly, the most heated showdowns in collegiate sports epitomize such a special fixture in student culture both on and off the athletic battlegrounds.

With the Ateneo Blue Eagles currently embarking on another historic University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season, the fire and passion behind the Blue and White’s most dramatic rivalries call for a well-deserved spotlight.

A tale as old as time

Sports’ greatest rivalries are more than just contests of the present—they are shaped by rich and storied legacies that have evolved over generations.

Ateneo-UP

Since the 1920s, Ateneo has mastered the art of keeping friends close and enemies closer. Calling Katipunan home, long-standing foes University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons have neighbored the Blue Eagles with a tension that has only magnified over time.

Initially called the “Battle of Intramuros,” this rivalry was sparked when UP students visited Ateneo’s Intramuros campus to face off in basketball games. During this time, the Ateneo established the Blue Babble Battalion, a pep squad formed to unsettle the opposing teams—eventually birthing their fabled cheers.

In 1924, Ateneo and UP helped found the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), leading the two universities to take their intense Intramuros tussles into bona fide collegiate league games. This Ateneo era mainly witnessed the top-seeded Fighting Maroons succumbing to the Blue and White in 1929. By the 1930s, UP withdrew from the NCAA to form the UAAP, with Ateneo joining the association after four decades. 

Internationally esteemed as the top two universities in the archipelago, Ateneo and UP persist in their academic and athletic duels, preserving the legacy of the Battle of Katipunan.

Ateneo-San Beda

While Ateneo’s rivalry with UP is widely touted, its fierce competition with San Beda University has largely faded from the spotlight. Unbeknownst to newer fans, San Beda was once deemed Ateneo’s main pre-UAAP nemesis. Exchanging turns at the league’s throne throughout the 1930s, the two reigned the NCAA basketball scene for years.

Decades later, the frenzied edge between the two powerhouses reached a tipping point in the infamous 1977 Finals, as a dangerous fan brawl led to Game 3 being held behind closed doors. With tensions high as the all-important game went down to the wire, Ateneo’s last-second shot attempt was ruled invalid, giving San Beda the championship.

The violence that marred the ‘77 championship series along with the league’s increasing hooliganism prompted both Ateneo and San Beda to exit the NCAA in 1978 and 1983, respectively. While the Blue Eagles ultimately moved to the UAAP for good, the Red Lions returned to the NCAA as the only remaining founding member in 1986.

Ateneo-La Salle

Regarded as one of the most venerated staples in Philippine sports, the bad blood between Ateneo and La Salle traces back to the 19th century. Stemming from disputes between the Jesuits and the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the Blue-Green feud has also experienced clashes beyond collegiate athletics.

Emerging from these early tensions, the 1939 NCAA La Salle basketball team’s upset over the mighty Ateneo opened the floodgates for an era of cutthroat competition. La Salle, entering as the underdogs, defied the odds by narrowly defeating Ateneo—who had already won five NCAA titles—by just four points (27-23).

This steady vendetta soon spilled over into other sports, most notably women’s volleyball, where the De La Salle Lady Spikers and previously-called Ateneo Lady Eagles faced off in the UAAP Finals for six consecutive seasons starting from Season 74.

No matter the sport, this legendary feud consistently draws record crowds and awakens school spirit. Beyond the UAAP, this storied rivalry, which has evolved into a defining sociocultural touchstone, has become a significant part of Filipino cultural identity—reflecting the nation’s passion, pride, and enduring spirit of competition.

Heated encounters

Very few rivalries resonate as powerfully as those between the Ateneo and La Salle, UP, and San Beda at the collegiate level. Producing some of the most exhilarating moments in sports, this fierce competition has led student-athletes each year to face an immense test of individual talent, team chemistry, and mental composure amid tough stakes.

Matthew Henry Li (BS LM ‘09), Managing Editor at Tiebreaker Times, emphasizes the essence of rivalries on the growing popularity of competitive sports. “Rivalries are the lifeblood of sports. You can’t sell sports without rivalries,” he states.

As sports rivalries ignite passion and fervor among players, fans, and journalists alike, they often lead to heightened emotions that can influence narratives. Thus, crucial to the work of sports journalists is to chronicle these historic moments with fair and balanced reporting in the thick of competitive sports culture.

“When you write [about rivalries], the emotion you want to show in your writing is either from the perspective of the fan, or what the athlete is conveying to you. It’s a selfless job, but it’s your job to tell the story of that game,” Li notes.

He also highlighted the importance of preserving the allure of rivalry games. As writers navigate the supercharged atmosphere of collegiate sports, their objective storytelling upholds the integrity of sports for the justice of the audience.

During challenging seasons—characterized by both the weight of expectations and the sting of rivalry losses—Ateneo only regroups and emerges stronger by channeling setbacks into motivation and turning moments of defeat into lessons for growth.

On Eagles’ wings

Ateneo’s ability to harness immense pressure and intensity to fuel their performance in various sports are what set them apart from the competition. Rooted in a culture of discipline and teamwork, the Blue Eagles’ strong sense of camaraderie continuously builds a resilient squad of athletes that can thrive under pressure.

For Artuz Cezar of the Ateneo Men’s Football Team, preparation in all aspects plays a role in studying their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. “Mental and physical preparation is also important. […] [Sometimes] we alter our strategy to compete against UP or La Salle. We switch tactics against a rival to gain a competitive advantage,” the goalkeeper shares.

While he knows the pressure that comes with these historic rivalries, Cezar recognizes their significance. In his tenured career as a Blue Eagle, he has had the rare opportunity to face UP and La Salle in the UAAP and San Beda in the 2023 Ang Liga quarterfinals.

Whether in fierce rivalries or at friendly inter-school meets, Ateneo’s successes in sports are testaments to the school’s timeless commitment to excellence. Coupled with the unwavering loyalty of the Ateneo community, the Blue Eagles’ spirit of competition serves as a reminder that true strength does not lie solely in victory. When surrounded by energized fans and coached by a goal-oriented staff, the Blue Eagles transform any court into a fortress where they can emulate the school’s legacy of grit and magis.

A century after the four rivals co-founded the NCAA as the country’s first collegiate league, the Ateneo continues to raise its colors in different sports. The University’s prowess and pressures in the athletic field continue to shape the wings of all its dedicated players. After all, the eagle must first fall for it to learn how to fly.