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Both pundits and fans alike have dubbed the Ateneo-La Salle Rivalry game as the Greatest Rivalry in all of Philippine Sports.
The game, be it in the regular season game or a playoff matchup, draws thousands to the arenas – and arena owners have battled for the rights to host the event – and produces high television ratings.
For a student-athlete coming from either school, it’s the game that they sorely miss once they move on from the college game. Just ask former De La Salle Green Archer Joseph Yeo and former Ateneo Blue Eagle LA Tenorio [READ: The Ninja and the Lieutenant: comparing Manila Clasico to La Salle-Ateneo rivalry].
Last Sunday, two seniors from the highly-regarded recruitment class of 2010 may have played their last Ateneo-La Salle game. Smart Elite ambassadors Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal, together with the rest of the Blue Eagles, were able to best their rivals De La Salle University to keep pace with the University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University in the standings.
In his five playing years in the UAAP, Ravena has compiled a 7-3 record against La Salle. In those ten games, Ravena averaged 19.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. On the other hand, Von Pessumal balanced his slate with a 4-4 record against their rivals. In the eight games he played against La Salle, he has norms of nine points on 39.65% FG% and 81% FT%, one three-pointer, and 3.5 rebounds.
Tiebreaker Times had the opportunity to speak with the two seniors and ask them to rank their best moments from the Rivalry.
Ravena and Pessumal’s #3 Moment: Second Round UAAP Season 78
Ateneo (9-4) defeats La Salle (5-7), 73-62
November 8, 2015
Statline
Von Pessumal 17 points, six rebounds, 2 3FGM, 40% FG, 7/9 FT
Kiefer Ravena 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, 7/10 FT
The two seniors ranked their potentially last Ateneo-La Salle game last Sunday as third on their list.
Ravena was more than happy to have his team come out on top after a tumultuous week for the Blue Eagles. “This game is probably the third. Sobrang nakakatuwa, very special dahil sa lahat ng pinagdaanan namin this week,” the Ateneo skipper said about it. “We had the opportunity to be closer as a team. We took everything positively.”
Pessumal was nostalgic after the game as he reflected on how he will miss the Rivalry match-up. “Mixed emotions for me. I’ve been in the Ateneo my whole life and this is the last time I’ll be facing win. I’m happy for the win but sad that I won’t be playing in this atmosphere again,” he disclosed. “Next time alumni na ko and I’m watching the game na lang. This is special for me especially after the bad press we’ve received. I also love how the crowd responded in this game.”
NEXT PAGE: Ravena and Pessumal’s number two moment >>
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Pessumal’s #2 Moment: First Round UAAP Season 77
Ateneo (2-0) defeats La Salle (0-2), 97-86
July 20, 2014
Statline
Von Pessumal 21 points, 47% FG%, 2 3FGM, seven rebounds, three assists
“Last year, first round I guess. I think I had a 21-point game coming off the bench,” Pessumal said.
The game, according to the Smart Elite ambassador, gave him the confidence that we see in his game today. “It was a good moment for me to get my confidence back and my groove back. I think that game helped me a lot moving forward.”
Ravena’s #2 Moment: First Round UAAP Season 74
Ateneo (2-0) defeats La Salle (0-2), 81-72
July 16, 2011
Statline
Kiefer Ravena 24 points, 50% FG%, 2 3FGM, ten rebounds, two assists, five steals
“The second was my first ever Ateneo-La Salle game.”
In Ravena’s UAAP debut, the Blue Eagles played the Adamson University Soaring Falcons. The Falcons squad, led by Alex Nuyles and Roider Cabrera, were able to hold the then-rookie Atenean to a scoreless outing in 14 minutes of action.
In his second game, that season’s Rookie of the Year made a grand statement on the biggest stage, dropping a double-double against the Green-and-White with a 24 point-10 rebound outing. Moreover, the game proved that Ravena was indeed the “Phenom”.
NEXT PAGE: Ravena and Pessumal’s top Ateneo-La Salle moment >>
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Pessumal’s #1 Moment: First Round UAAP Season 75
Ateneo (3-1) defeats La Salle (2-2), 71-61
July 28, 2012
Statline
Von Pessumal Two points in six minutes
No one ever forgets their first.
“The very first one was in my sophomore year. In my earlier years, I wasn’t really used much but coach Norman [Black] put me in the game for around four or maybe three minutes,” Pessumal recalled.
In his first game of Season 75, Pessumal scored his first field goal in the said game. “I got to score my first two points of the season against La Salle.”
“It was very memorable for me not just because it is an Ateneo-La Salle game but also it was my first points of the season. It was my very first field goal if I remember correctly.”
Nothing beats the first but for Kiefer Ravena there’s this moment.
Ravena’s #1 Moment: Final Four UAAP Season 75
Ateneo eliminates La Salle, 66-63
September 29, 2012
Statline
Kiefer Ravena 28 points, 12 rebounds, six assists
“I didn’t want to lose for my seniors and for the Ateneo community who came to watch us play,” Ravena said after that game.
“Well siguro, yung favorite Ateneo-La Salle moment was when we faced them in the Final Four. We were down 11 points going into the final quarter, we had to catch-up and [eventually] win the game,” the Ateneo captain recalled about the game.
But what made it more special for him were the implications the game had. “We knocked them out and that was the five-peat kasi and that was our last championship. It was a hard-fought game and buti na lang nanalo kami,” he added.
Ravena, though, hopes they can face La Salle one last time in saying, “hindi pa naman huli yung lahat. If given a chance, we will probably see each other again.”
“Sabi nga ni Jeron, ‘we will see each other again’ and we will be ready for that challenge.”
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