MANILA, Philippines – Players come and go. But for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and De La Salle Green Archers, it doesn’t matter who plays.

Talents, skills, manpower and other tangibles cancel out everytime these two teams meet. The age-old rivalry is enough to bring out the best in them.

This Saturday, the Araneta Coliseum will be transformed into a sea of green and blue once again as it bears witness to a fabled rivalry unfolding for the nth time.

Former Blue Eagles and Green Archers share their thoughts on the rivalry that caused them sleepless nights while pushing their adrenalin to the highest level.

Ex-La Salle forward Rico Maierhofer, now playing for B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), boldly predicted that this year’s batch of Green Archers will pulverize the Blue Eagles by 20 points.

The lanky forward, who won a championship with DLSU in 2007, added that Joshua Webb will have his breakout game this season.

“Sabi nga ni PJ Walsham (teammate ko nun) na matalo na sa lahat, ‘wag lang sa Ateneo,” Maierhofer said.

LA Tenorio, who was Ateneo’s quarterback from 2001-2006, disagreed with Maierhofer’s prediction.

“I think maganda ‘yung match-up ngayon kasi nag-mature na ang La Salle (players) while nawalan naman ng mga beterano ang Ateneo. It’s evenly matched. I don’t think it will be a blowout game,” said Tenorio, who now plays point guard for the Alaska Aces.

Joseph Yeo, who donned the Green Archers’ jersey from 2001-2005, also shared the same view as Tenorio.

Yeo, now with the San Miguel Beermen, said: “Match lang, ‘di ganun kalakas ang Ateneo ngayon pero may advantage sila sa experience while nakakuha naman ng momentum ang La Salle sa last game nila (against UE). Ibang usapan na kapag pride ang nakataya.”

Larry Fonacier, who is best remembered for his back-to-back blocks on Mac Cardona in the 2002 Finals, thinks it would be a close game too.

“Kahit anong lineup, close game yan. When you’re playing in an Ateneo-La Salle game, you don’t need to motivate yourself,” shared Fonacier, who now also plays for the Alaska Aces.

Cardona, meanwhile, sees himself in the current batch of Green Archers.

“And DLSU team ngayon ang pinakabata pero palaban. Nakikita ko sa kanila ang sarili ko noong rookie pa lang ako sa UAAP,” said Cardona, who was the season and Finals MVP in 2004. Cardona now plays for Talk ‘n Text Tropang Texters in the PBA.

Meanwhile, Don Allado, a 2-time UAAP MVP during his tour of duty in La Salle from 1996-1999, has one piece of advice to this season’s batch of Green Archers.

“The whole La Sallian Community is depending on you. Don’t let them down,” Allado said.

For the older generation, they see this rivalry in another perspective.

San Miguel Beermen point guard Olsen Racela, who was a key player in the Ateneo team that won back-to-back titles in the late 80’s, said that it doesn’t matter who is favored going into the game because the passion negates any advantage in manpower whenever these two teams meet on the hardcourt.

“Kapag nag-jump ball na, everything evens out,” said Racela, who is the oldest active player in the PBA today.

St. Benilde Blazers coach Richard del Rosario, who played for La Salle from 1987-1990, says La Salle will win if its young players can speed up the tempo of the game.

“The key for La Salle would be their pressure defense. If they can force a lot of turnovers and play a fast-paced game, they have a strong chance of beating Ateneo. But in a half-court game, Ateneo has the advantage,” said Del Rosario, who also does color commentary for the PBA coverage and works as an assistant coach of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Quinito Henson, who is more popularly known as The Dean in the sporting community, shares a different insight on the rivalry.

“Beyond the personnel and the statistics, what’s nice to see is the spirit. ‘Yun ang nakakadala ng intensity. Even if there’s no championship at stake, the players play all out,” said Henson, a full blooded La Sallian from elementary up to college.

“Whether if you’re not from Ateneo and La Salle, it’s exciting to watch these two teams play because of the pure intensity. The crowd is into it in every possession and that’s the kind of atmosphere you can expect from an Ateneo-La Salle game,” explained the popular TV sports analyst and sports columnist.

On Saturday afternoon, it will be like the good ‘ol days for these former Blue Eagles and Green Archers. They will pump their fist for every basket made but this time, not on the hardcourt, but from the stands or the comfort of their homes watching the game live on TV.