Talk about being dialed in.
The animosity between longtime rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles and De La Salle Green Archers reached max levels from the early to mid-2000s. The trash-talking back then would make CJ Cansino’s infamous shush gesture look like he was doing the sign of the cross.
In a recent vlog of the PBA Motoclub, former La Salle guard Ryan Araña explained why it was easy for him and the rest of the Green Archers to hurl insults at their nemeses.
“’Yung era ng Ateneo-La Salle dati, talagang mayayabang ang players,” Araña said. “Hindi na katulad ngayon, 'yang mga baby-baby, 'yung pagkatapos ng game magkakasamang gumigimik. ’Yung dati, ‘pag kalaban mo sa court, kahit sa labas, hindi pa rin kayo magkakaibigan."
In UAAP Season 68, Araña left his mark in the storied rivalry between the two universities with an iconic taunt. Some call it "Araña’s Last Dance" as he literally danced to mock the Blue Eagles who were about to lose by a wide margin in one of their games. His smirk while gyrating was the clincher.
He got T’d up but it was all worth it for the brash shooting guard.
“Bakit ko sinayawan? Kasi nga pang-asar mo ‘yun. (Biruin mo), mumurahin ka ng mga alumni ng Ateneo kahit nasa labas ka (ng court). Sa Greenbelt, napadaan tayo sa grupo ng mga babaeng Atenista, sabi sa’tin, 'Ewwwww,’” Araña recalled.
He also revealed how La Salle legend Mac Cardona went to great lengths just to psych out the Blue Eagles, specifically in-your-face swingman Wesley Gonzales.
“Si Mac-Mac inaagaw pa niyan ‘yung girlfriend ni Wesley dati. Sa toto lang," revealed Araña.
He, however, quickly made a clarification.
"Ganun kaliteral ‘yung rivalry ng Ateneo at La Salle dati. Hindi naman inaagaw, tini-text (lang ni Mac-Mac ‘yung babae) para lang mainis (si Wesley),” he noted.
ALSO READ: Mac Cardona, Joseph Yeo recall La Salle crown, forfeited title during champions’ reunion
To fully grasp the hostility between the two schools in the olden days, Araña also shared an unwritten rule that Ateneans and La Sallians abided by.
“’Pag taga-La Salle ka, bawal kang pumunta sa Katipunan, ‘pag taga-Katipunan ka, bawal kang pumunta sa Taft,” he said.
Today, Cardona and Gonzales are good friends. But their intense battles and psychological warfare during the height of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry will always make up for good throwback stories.
(PM)