1st Kalayaan Basketball Freedom Festival
De La Salle Alumni Australia - 40
Ateneo Alumni Australia - 24
[Halftime score: 15 - 10]
After 3 months of weekly practice sessions, punishing drills and tremendous excitement to do battle against our traditional rivals - the Ateneo Blue Eagles - we have - once again - prevailed over them in the sport of basketball.
June 15, 2008, Sunday, the day of reckoning. Players and supporters from both camps are all every excited. Pumped to the max, supporters turned up wearing their green or blue shirts, and some came with balloons, banners, placards, etc.
Our De La Salle Alumni Australia (DLSAA) basketball team prepared by going through the plays once more, our Xs and Os, and how defense, as always, will be crucial to our success.
Then our fearless playing coach/leader, Chris Somera, reminded us how beating Ateneo is a MUST. The rivalry that has gone through so many of the GREEN and BLUE-blooded generations, and as a reminder: A Nation’s Passion Lives in a Rivalry of Green vs. Blue
The pent-up emotion and simmering passion. The wait is nearly over.
"Let's do some stretching guys", says Chris, in order to lighten things up.
Family:
Don Aquiatan (#13) and Willard "Dak" Manay (#12) are De La Salle Lipa alumni. So proud of their green roots, they cannot let this day go past without some family pics proudly wearing their new uniforms. Emer Arago (#15), an ex-PBL player, is Don's brother-in-law and Will's uncle.
The Policarpio brothers: Jo Paolo and Red.
The game is nigh.
Time to warm up.
Then finally...........
GAME TIME!
Chris' leadership was crucial from start to finish.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES GUYS!
And so, even after a slow start by our team, we managed to catch up.
We led by halftime, only to surrender the lead at the start of the 2nd half due to Ateneo's relentless attacks.
BUT our defense proved superior, helped by some crucial offensive rebounding.
It was a great victory.
But we'd also like to take our hats off to the Ateneo team.
They played really well and fought to the very end.
Well done BLUE EAGLES!
Last, but not least:
Miguel "El Akous" Florentino leading the way in singing the alma mater song.
Hail, Hail
Hail to De La Salle!
We'll hold your banner high and bright,
A shield of green and white.
We'll fight to keep your glory bright,
And never shall we fail,
Hail to thee our Alma Mater!
Hail! Hail! Hail!
