Mason Amos has worn both sides of the fiercest rivalry in Philippine collegiate basketball.
On Saturday, he added another unforgettable chapter to its storied history — this time, by delivering a dagger against the school where his collegiate journey began.
The Filipino-Australian big man buried a crucial three-pointer down the stretch to help De La Salle University escape archrival Ateneo de Manila University, 76-73, in overtime in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
For Amos, however, the moment meant more than another clutch shot. It was another chapter in a rollercoaster collegiate career that has made him an unlikely central figure in the ever-evolving mythos of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry.
When Amos first arrived at Ateneo from Brisbane State High School in Australia, he was viewed as a prized prospect destined to join the lineage of Blue Eagle greats. Having already made a name for himself through his stints with Gilas Boys, the 6-foot-7 big man carried the promise of a bright future in Loyola Heights.
Although he and the Blue Eagles failed to defend their crown in Season 86, Amos showed enough promise to inspire hope that he could become the face of Ateneo’s next generation.
Then came the unexpected twist.
In July 2024, Amos made the stunning decision to transfer to De La Salle, crossing the line from Loyola Heights to Taft Avenue and joining the very rival he once represented.
For diehard supporters, it was an almost unthinkable move. A prized prospect switching sides in one of Philippine sports’ most storied rivalries was bound to draw a reaction, and Amos quickly found himself at the center of the noise.
The boos followed him into his first season with the Green Archers in Season 88, including a loss to his former school. But Amos eventually had the last laugh, helping La Salle capture another championship by the end of the season.
Through it all, one thing remained constant: his ability to deliver when it mattered most.
Whether wearing Ateneo blue or La Salle green, the 22-year-old continued to make his mark with his patented three-point shot, adding another layer to a career defined by unexpected turns and high-stakes moments.
Now, with what could have been his final game against the school he controversially left in 2024, Amos looked back on his unusual place in the rivalry with fondness.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“It’s a little bit emotional,” he said.
Amos finished with eight points and eight rebounds in La Salle’s overtime victory, but it was his three-pointer with 1:35 remaining that proved particularly decisive. The shot gave the Green Archers the breathing room they needed to close out the Blue Eagles.
It also helped seal another historic milestone for the rivalry. La Salle moved ahead of Ateneo in the all-time UAAP series, 51-50, while the two archrivals played their first overtime game against each other since August 9, 2009.
For Amos, the decisive triple was simply a matter of being ready when the opportunity came.
“I was always just ready, and when my time came, it just happened on its own,” he said.
The boos were still there, with the Ateneo gallery eager to see the Blue Eagles exact revenge on their archrivals. But Amos said he remained focused on the game, allowing him to shut out the noise surrounding his controversial transfer.
Beyond the competition, he remains grateful for the role he has played in reigniting one of Philippine collegiate sports’ most enduring rivalries, particularly during his final playing year.
And despite everything that has transpired since his departure, his appreciation for the school that first gave him an opportunity has never disappeared.
“I’m not trying to let it get to me, because I have so much love for the school of Ateneo as well. It’s just so surreal when I was able to do their alma mater hymn at the end too,” he added.
As another chapter closes in the storied Ateneo-La Salle rivalry, Amos is left with a unique perspective few players can claim: having experienced its intensity from both sides of the court.
For all the boos, the pressure, and the unforgettable moments, he remains grateful to have been part of a rivalry that helped shape his collegiate journey.
“Super surreal for me. I’m forever grateful that I was able to play on the rivalry, play on both sides of it.”
