Basketball Game Review: Tsk...tsk...

Ateneo vs. La Salle Dream Game 2005

Date: December 8, 2005

Today marked a day of shame and utter disappointment for one of the most prestigious and respected schools in the country. And sadly, it was only because of the irresponsible and childish actions of one player to ruin this milestone event.

I am an Atenean, a proud one at that, and a basketball fan and what makes me remember the event is not the sweet victory of my school nor the close and fantastic game played by both teams. I remember the immaturity shown in a respectable, well-prepared exhibition game which people all over the country have stopped what they were doing just to watch.

I am sure that the committees and people responsible for Dream Game 2005 have gone through a great deal of work and have exerted much effort to make this immortal game happen. The relationship of two warring schools has been greatly reduced over the years and both have grown to respect each other. This respect is shown in the many ways, one of which is various interschool projects such as this monumental one.

The game starts perfectly and is played with sportsmanship and healthy competition. By healthy competition, I mean the typical competition found in all intense basketball games: your occasional discreet trash talking and a few light pushes and elbows when grabbing rebounds and the likes. This, through the evolution of basketball over 50 years, has undeniably become the norm. You get hit (no matter how hard), you get them back in the game through tougher offense or defense. That is how basketball is played.

But when you get hit during the game and you retaliate by deliberately attacking a player by striking him in the face knowing he just recovered from a nose injury during what will be the most memorable game of the year (at the very least), that is pure and simple stupidity. Not only did you bring shame to yourself which reflects from your harsh and uncalled for actions, you brought shame to your school. On top of that, our antagonist walks out of the court continuously taunting the player he hurt and his whole team causing more heat from both sides showing the true intentions of his actions.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking. This has happened before and it will happen again. Players will always hold grudges and have bad blood against rival teams. Players have deliberately hit players from other teams throughout the years both from Ateneo and La Salle. Fine. I acknowledge these facts of life. But THIS game is different. It's like walking out of a church to answer a cellphone call during a mass being said by the Pope. To some spectators, this is the game of the year, to be remembered for all time. This game not only shows a great exhibition of the sport, it also shows the celebration of the growing relationship of two prestigious schools. And thanks to Joseph Yeo of La Salle, this game will truly be remembered for all time in a bad light at that which is but an understatement.

What people will remember is not the exciting game played and the victory of one of the two sporting schools. It will be how one player chose to destroy what several people from two different and prestigious organizations carefully built and organized. And with that, sadly, brought his school down with him. This night was supposed to be about sportsmanship and unity. Instead, it became a display of unnecessary shame and immaturity. I feel bad for La Salle knowing that they had no liking whatsoever to be put in such a bad light.

What a way to go, Mr. Yeo. Good luck with getting a career in the league to be in after what you’ve done considering you won’t be playing any games in the years to come.

Lastly, I would like to say I’m not saying this because I’m an Atenean and I’m bashing on a rival school. No. I have gone out of my blue prep to high school cage a long time ago and have met great Lasallite friends whom I keep contact with to this very day. If this happened the other way around, I would feel ashamed not because of my sentiments to the opposition, but because one of my schoolmates destroyed the meaning of such a glorious event.

Truly a sad display of character on such a great day.

RATING: (none)

"Every man dies, not every man really lives." - William Wallace, Braveheart