By: Ernest Tuazon and Gab Ignacio
Memories of BJ Manalo committing to De La Salle University more than two decades ago were evoked on Monday evening after Mason Amos decided to transfer from Ateneo de Manila University to its arch-rival.
Though not an Ateneo lifer as Manalo was, Amos was viewed as the ‘King Eagle’ despite being just in his second year come UAAP Season 87.
But at the end of the day, it was his life and his decision.
Kiefer Ravena, a two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, shared that collegiate basketball is like professional basketball nowadays where players move from one place to another.
“Like what I said, the same move that I did. Kahit galing sa champion, you make a move, di ba?” said Ravena, who recently moved from Shiga to Yokohama in the B.League.
“Everybody will have their opinion on it, and everybody will have a lot of emotions involved, especially when it comes to school pride and school loyalty.
“As an Atenean, of course, it sucks to see Mason leave but at the same time, I understand where he’s coming from. If he sees something that would be beneficial for him, he’s gonna make that move,” added the Ateneo great.
Ateneo lifer BJ Andrade shared the same sentiment as Ravena.
“Para sa akin, hindi naman masama lumipat ng school kasi siyempre, kung athlete ka, gusto mo gumanda ang career mo. Baka yun yung naisip ni Mason na mas gaganda ang career niya sa Taft,” shared Andrade, who was the team captain of UAAP Season 85.
On the other hand, Dave Ildefonso knows what Amos went through as he himself transferred from National University to Ateneo four years ago.
“Siyempre at the end of the day, player’s decision pa rin naman where they wanna play,” said Ildefonso, who helped Ateneo win the Season 85 title.
“I think this reaction is just really coming from where, I mean the schools themselves, Ateneo, La Salle, ganyan.”
For Geo Chiu, though, the timing of Amos’s departure was a bit off.
Chiu left Ateneo way before the Blue Eagles started to prepare for UAAP Season 87.
Meanwhile, Amos even joined Ateneo’s camp in Australia two weeks ago.
“Siguro just like everyone else, masakit siya, mabigat. It’s like who would expect na may ganon na mangyayari na in preparations for the UAAP, that’s kind of big, especially for the Ateneo community and sa team for sure, since biglaan yan,” lamented Chiu, adding that he was at Moro Lorenzo Gym when Amos announced the news.
“At the same time, for sure yung bata he has his reasons and everything kaya as his kuya, sinasabihan ko siya and I just want what’s best for the bata, pero at the same time, I just want to reach out to him lang, mangangamusta lang [because] he is going through so much. For me naman, I respect his decision, but masakit siya.”
There were also developments circulating on social media late Monday evening that the Blue Eagles knew about Amos’s departure just like everyone else.
It’s what saddens cousins Ildefonso and Andrade.
“Pero sana, nagpaalam siya sa Ateneo na aalis siya,” rued Andrade, who currently plays for Converge.
“For me lang din, wala naman akong problems sa move eh. My only problem lang is yung naririnig ko nga na hindi raw siya nagpaalam allegedly. Di ko rin alam kasi medyo wala na akong contact sa team pero if that’s true, syempre at his young age, it’s a bad look to be burning bridges this early,” added Ildefonso, who is joining the 2024 PBA Draft.
“All he has to do is syempre try to make a statement and try to do it properly. Wala naman akong problema.”
Having played with Amos, Chiu admitted that there are a lot of hurt feelings in the Ateneo camp.
“For sure, syempre sa Ateneo kasi we have a brotherhood, kaya syempre masakit na yung brother mo, iniwan kayo. Medyo huwag naman na iniwan na term, pero he left ‘eh,” lamented Chiu.
“Yung Ateneo naman, it’s not the current team of brothers, it’s like everyone who came before you, you were brothers together. So parang, I feel what they feel. For sure, nafi-feel ko yung nafi-feel nila, but for me naman, I just try to be in the middle as best as I could para syempre walang bias.”
All biases aside, Andrade feels that this move by Amos will re-ignite the dormant rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle.
“Interesting din yung move niya dahil feel ko mag-spark din ito ng excitement sa susunod na mga Ateneo-La Salle games,” he said.
“I hope the best for Mason and good luck sa new chapter niya. OBF pa rin!”
Ravena, though, hopes that the animosity on social media against Amos fizzles down in the coming days.
“That’s what he did and I respect it and hopefully, I think it’s gonna die down a little once everything is settled.”
