If only the walls of the historic SMART Araneta Coliseum could talk, they would definitely tell plenty of stories regarding the numerous face-offs of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles’ Kiefer Ravena and the De La Salle University Green Archers’ Jeron Teng.
The second-generation cagers have always been pitted against each other, mainly because of the decades-long rivalry of their schools.
Sunday night, again at the Big Dome, Ravena and Teng’s rivalry was renewed.
This time, however, it’s taking place in the PBA, when Ravena and the NLEX Road Warriors took on Teng and the surging Alaska Aces.
Both men coincidentally finished with 12 points each, but Ravena, who added 10 assists to his name, had the last laugh, as he and the Road Warriors reigned victorious, 96-89, to snap the Milkmen’s league-best six-game winning streak.
Teng was blank as soon as he came out of their dugout, but when asked about the rivalry, his expression changed.
“It brings back the good old days, yung La Salle-Ateneo rivalry namin,” said Teng, a winner of two UAAP championships.
“Kahit wala na kami sa college, I think never na mawawala yung pagiging La Salista ko at pagka-Atenista niya.”
Ravena echoed the sentiments of Teng, whom he had the opportunity to play with many times, with the most recent one back in September 2017 when they suited up for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
“Well, ganun talaga eh,” said Ravena, also a two-time UAAP champion. “The pride of having that Ateneo-La Salle rivalry… It will never go away. It will always be a side story of our rivalry and we’re very blessed to be part of that rivalry.
“Dami nang dumaan na Ateneo-La Salle sa PBA and you know, with us, the new guys, renew the spark of Ateneans and La Sallians making a name for themselves in the PBA.”
