Last month, a scrimmage between the De La Salle University Green Archers and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws came to an abrupt end after physicality turned into violence then taunting.
The game had to be stopped late in the third quarter with La Salle ahead.
READ: Ayo says Tamaraws out to provoke Green Archers
READ: Racela says FEU won’t back down from Green Archers
As fate would have it, both teams get an immediate chance to settle the score as FEU and La Salle will meet for their opening day matches on Wednesday, September 7, at the Araneta Colesium.
And the tension was apparent in the UAAP Season 79 press conference.
“FEU, para matapos na namin ‘yung laro,” La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo said staunchly when asked who he was looking forward to facing most.
“We’re excited to play everybody,” answered FEU head coach Nash Racela at the same question. But after jeering from the crowd, the championship-winning coach gave in: “Siyempre we’re definitely looking for ward to playing La Salle.
Ayo, who steered his alma mater Colegio San Juan Letran Knights to the NCAA championship in Season 91, thinks he and his team is in Racela’s head.
“Gusto ko ‘yung sinabi ni Racela, ‘We’re not going to back down sa La Salle.’ The mere fact na sinabi niya ‘yun na na hindi naman tinatanong sa kanya, it means na nasa isip niya kami,” Ayo expressed.
“I believe na lahat naman ng ginagawa ng mga team is may purpose kaya ‘yung nangyari [scrimmage scuffle] may purpose ‘din sila doon.”
The soft-spoken Racela is just going with whatever Ayo and the media say.
“We’re focused on the games and our performance. Makiki-ride na lang ako,” Racela concluded.
