It wouldn’t be an rivalry game between the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and the De La Salle University Green Archers without a confrontation. But unexpectedly, the two that clashed were the usually-calm Isaac Go and neophyte Taane Samuel.
With 34.9 left in the opening stanza of the game, Gian Mamuyac accidentally poked a driving Taane Samuel in the eye. Afterwards, Go tried to seal him off as Aljun Melecio went for a shot.
As Melecio and Go were going back down to the other side of the court, they inadvertently collided. The Kiwi student-athlete, who stands at 6-foot-8, tried to confront Go, a 6-foot-8 stretch big man, which baffled the Atenean afterwards.
“I dunno what to say really, I mean maybe that’s his style of play? I don’t know, we haven’t seen him play in the UAAP. Maybe, he’s trying to get to our heads? We don’t really know,” wondered Go, who had three points, five rebounds, and two assists in 13 minutes of game time.
“This is his first game back. We haven’t seen if there’s consistency with that or just for this game.”
For his part, Samuel said that it’s all part of the game.
“It’s just banter. It’s just in the game,” said Samuel, who had eight points and three rebounds.
“Whatever happens on the court stays on the court.
“I have a lot of respect to every player in every team. They’re just doing what they can do to win, just like what we’re doing,” he added.
Go is not holding any grudges, knowing that things can get chippy, especially late into the season.
Ateneo ended up winning the game, 71-62, to seal top seed. And there seemed to be no bad blood as every player on the court hugged it out.
