The green grass failed to reach the blue sky as students from the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) continue to experience the euphoria of victory over their long-standing rival, the De La Salle University (DLSU).

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men's basketball championship on Thursday after six years, stopping the De La Salle University Green Archers, 62-51, in Game 2 of their Season 71 best-of-three championship series at the Araneta Coliseum.

The triumph was twice as good for BS Health Sciences (BS HSC) senior Sibs Ubaldo, saying that his thirst for the win was finally quenched after his four years in the Ateneo.

“Iba eh. Yung pakiramdam parang uhaw na uhaw ka tapos sa wakas nakainom ka ng tubig,” said Ubaldo.

AB Management Economics (AB MEco) student Sam Valencia felt lucky that her first UAAP experience ended up in a championship. Freshman Ken Pessumal, on the other hand, anticipated his school’s victory given Ateneo’s track record.

“It was basically an easy season for Ateneo, and we deserved to win,” said Pessumal.

This feeling of excitement was not limited to students as members of the Ateneo personnel also joined in this much-awaited celebration.

A reputed terror professor in Theology, for instance, was said to give an unusually easy quiz the day after the championship game.

Students said that many other professors granted a lot of bonus points to students in their long exams. Even a cafeteria stall had a P5 discount on its food items in lieu of Ateneo’s victory.

Blue sky, green grass

The sea of green and blue at the Araneta Coliseum last Thursday has finally calmed down. It is now a plethora of blue and white, resembling the sky.

“Why is the sky blue? Because we [Ateneans] are above you,” said Pessumal.

The Ateneo emerged victorious, obtaining yet another source of pride for its students.

Even without this, however, Ateneans have always had an incredible sense of school spirit. Students said that the Ateneo de Manila University’s reputation for excellence makes students proud to be a part of such an institution.

Valencia said that she takes pride in being an Atenean because she is taught not only of academic knowledge, but also of social and spiritual awareness as well.

“Ateneo is not only about academic excellence. With its philosophy and theology subjects, we still manage to keep in close touch with the spiritual and religious aspects of our lives, unlike other schools that tend to neglect them,” she said.

Why are we proud to be Ateneans? There are many answers, but BS HSC freshman Juliann Dulay cannot say it any better.

“Because the green grass will never reach the blue sky,” he said.