Game Over
And just like that Ateneo’s basketball season is over.
The Lady Eagles bagged the championship over the UP Lady Maroons.
The Blue Eaglets failed to defend their title against the DLSZ Green Archers.
The Blue Eagles lost to the DLSU Green Archers in the semifinals.
***
In the senior’s match-up, Ateneo simply lost to the better team.
The only shame I see in losing to a better team is when you don’t show up to fight. The Blue Eagles fought until the last seconds fo the game and that's good enough for me.
We won’t always be on top. As I told a good friend a few hours after the game, if each team has 100 fans each, only 100 fans will be rejoicing at season’s end while the other 700 will be weeping. Losing is part of life. It’s not about the number of times we fall but about the number of times we get up afterwards.
It was a good season, a good run. Now that it’s over, it’s time to move on. It’s time to look forward to next season. Looking back only to learn from the lessons of the past.
Ultimately, I think that’s what being a real fan is. To believe in the team in victory as well as in defeat. An undying hope represented by the loud cheers - “Go Ateneo! One Big Fight!” - as well as the silent prayers said before, during, and even after the game.
The Green Archers wanted that game more than the Blue Eagles. Cholo Villanueva wanted that game more than Ford Arao.
(Note: It’s not a question of “wanting” and “not wanting”, rather “wanting” and “wanting more”.)
The flow of the game showed it. The result shows it.
***
It was a sight to see when, while singing the Song for Mary after the game, the Green Archers clapped for the Blue Eagles. It wasn’t just the crowd clapping, as it usually is, but the players themselves. And from where I was standing, it seemed they were sincere with their clapping.
=====
A big thanks to the people who made it possible for me to watch three Ateneo - La Salle games live with them this year:
Eliminations, Round 2 - Pauie
Semifinals, Game 1 - Timmy
Semifinals, Game 2 - Pau (Pau F.)
:)
The Lady Eagles bagged the championship over the UP Lady Maroons.
The Blue Eaglets failed to defend their title against the DLSZ Green Archers.
The Blue Eagles lost to the DLSU Green Archers in the semifinals.
***
In the senior’s match-up, Ateneo simply lost to the better team.
The only shame I see in losing to a better team is when you don’t show up to fight. The Blue Eagles fought until the last seconds fo the game and that's good enough for me.
We won’t always be on top. As I told a good friend a few hours after the game, if each team has 100 fans each, only 100 fans will be rejoicing at season’s end while the other 700 will be weeping. Losing is part of life. It’s not about the number of times we fall but about the number of times we get up afterwards.
It was a good season, a good run. Now that it’s over, it’s time to move on. It’s time to look forward to next season. Looking back only to learn from the lessons of the past.
Ultimately, I think that’s what being a real fan is. To believe in the team in victory as well as in defeat. An undying hope represented by the loud cheers - “Go Ateneo! One Big Fight!” - as well as the silent prayers said before, during, and even after the game.
The Green Archers wanted that game more than the Blue Eagles. Cholo Villanueva wanted that game more than Ford Arao.
(Note: It’s not a question of “wanting” and “not wanting”, rather “wanting” and “wanting more”.)
The flow of the game showed it. The result shows it.
***
It was a sight to see when, while singing the Song for Mary after the game, the Green Archers clapped for the Blue Eagles. It wasn’t just the crowd clapping, as it usually is, but the players themselves. And from where I was standing, it seemed they were sincere with their clapping.
=====
A big thanks to the people who made it possible for me to watch three Ateneo - La Salle games live with them this year:
Eliminations, Round 2 - Pauie
Semifinals, Game 1 - Timmy
Semifinals, Game 2 - Pau (Pau F.)
:)