There’s something special about the rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle. It’s a rivalry that brings out the best from the green and the blue whether in sports or academics or business. What makes the competition enjoyable – even if often nerve-wracking – is diehards from both schools relish the journey more than finally reaching their destination or at least most of them do.
Take the case of two brothers with different color preferences. Monsignor Rufino (Toto) Suplido Jr. went to La Salle Bacolod for grade school then moved to the San Jose Seminary which is Jesuit-run on the Loyola campus. Monsignor Toto, 68, is a San Jose alumnus and earned his philosophy degree at the Ateneo and finished theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology. He worked closely with Fr. James Reuter, SJ, in media and served as Board Member of Radyo Veritas from 1992 to 2004.
Monsignor Toto is now chaplain of La Salle Zobel in Alabang and resident priest at St. James the Great where he was Parish Vicar in 2004-07. Monsignor Toto’s younger brother Br. Ray Suplido, 67, is University of St. La Salle Bacolod president and a certified green-blood. With his long Jesuit history, Monsignor Toto is more blue than green.
When La Salle and Ateneo used to play in the NCAA, the Suplido brothers would sit side by side to watch the games. Monsignor Toto said since Br. Ray would provide the tickets, they sat at the La Salle side.
“I’ll never forget that one game at the Blue Eagle Gym,” said Monsignor Toto. “The game was over but supporters from both schools stayed on, cheering away, long after the last buzzer. What was meaningful to me was today, I don’t even remember who won that game but I still remember the wonderful spirit displayed by both schools.”
Sometimes, La Salle and Ateneo backers forget that while the final score is important, it isn’t the only thing that’s important. As Monsignor Toto mentioned, what will remain in everyone’s mind after a game is how it was played, the sportsmanship shown by the players, how the cheering went, the fun that was enjoyed and yes, the healthy rivalry.
In this season’s UAAP men’s senior basketball wars, Ateneo had the upper hand in the first round, beating La Salle, 97-86, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last July 20. But last Sunday, the Green Archers exacted payback, 88-86, also at the Big Dome. Both games were marked by enthusiastic cheering, gnashing of teeth and happy faces. There was ribbing by blue to green in the first game and by green to blue in the second.
As a La Salle alumnus, I went to the Ateneo dugout to congratulate my friends for the first round victory right after the game. I called out to center Fonso Gotladera who used to play for La Salle and transferred to Ateneo. Fonso was taking a shower when I dropped by but stuck his head out to say thanks. I’ve known coach Bo Perasol since his PBA days and we’ve become friends and textmates. I congratulated him heartily. I saw rookie Arvin Tolentino in the corridor and congratulated him for his fine showing. Assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc and Kiefer Ravena had left before I visited the dugout but I would’ve liked to congratulate them, too.
Last Sunday, Ateneo alumnus Mike Herlihy went to the La Salle dugout to congratulate the Archers. It was a warm gesture of sportsmanship. Mike was all smiles as he shook hands with La Salle’s No. 1 backer Ambassador Danding Cojuangco. Mike even asked if someone could take a picture of him flanked by Ambassador Danding and his brother Rep. Henry. Mike slapped high fives with his La Salle friends in the dressing room. That’s what sports is all about – camaraderie, knowing how to win and how to lose, being humble in victory and gracious in defeat, building friendships and enjoying the journey.
Br. Ray said he and Monsignor Toto try to take their summer breaks together. “After graduation every year, we schedule our summer vacations so we can travel to visit relatives and friends,” said Br. Ray. “We’ve been doing that for years. We’re six in the family, four boys, and Toto is our oldest and I come next. Our love for sports goes back to when we were kids. Because of my height, I didn’t play basketball but I did football and tennis. Toto was into basketball which he loves.”
Br. Ray said crossing blue and green bloodlines isn’t unique. He mentioned families where the father was a La Salle alumnus and his children went to the Ateneo and vice versa. A shining example of a “hybrid” is Br. Ricky Laguda who was recently elected one of five General Councilors advising the Superior General Br. Robert Schieler of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Rome and is now in charge of the Pacific Asia Regional Conference. Br. Ricky was president of La Salle Taft before his appointment. He attended elementary and high school at La Salle Bacolod, went to the Ateneo and earned his Master’s and doctorate degrees at La Salle. Another example is Fr. Robbie Sian who was valedictorian in elementary and high school at La Salle Bacolod, earned a medical degree at UP then became a Jesuit. UAAP basketball TV analyst T. J. Manotoc also has mixed bloodlines, finishing high school at the Ateneo and college at La Salle.
Years from today, La Salle and Ateneo supporters will probably forget the final scores in the first and second rounds this season. What they’ll never forget is how the games were played with dignity, class and the spirit of healthy competition.