Ateneo-La Salle rivalry

The Ateneo-La Salle rivalry is a school rivalry between the two most prestigious private universities in the Philippines, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/sports/23rivalry.html?_r=1&oref=slogin A Nation's Passion Lives in a Rivalry of Green vs. Blue - New York Times] . nytimes.com. Accessed Sept. 2008.] the Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University.

The rivalry began in the early years of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) and was carried over to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines when La Salle transferred in 1986. [ [http://www.gameface.ph/columns/sammiguel072307.php Gameface.ph] . gameface.ph. Accessed Sept. 2008.]

The two universities are also represented in the high school level, with the Ateneo de Manila High School and La Salle Green Hills (1968-1981), De La Salle Zobel (1986-present). And a similar rivalry, although on much lesser scale, currently exists. When La Salle Green Hills used to be the Juniors' team of the Green Archers in the NCAA though, the rivalry between the Ateneo and La Salle in the high school level was much stronger, considering that both the Ateneo High School and the LSGH High School are both all-male schools, even igniting a huge rumble in 1978. But this rivalry has since faded, with AHS being in the UAAP and LSGH staying in the NCAA. Still, the remnants of this rivalry live on in the UAAP with LSGH's sister school De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School, the juniors reps of DLSU in the UAAP, taking its place.

Basketball rivalry

This is where the rivalry is most felt, especially in the Men's division. Both Ateneo and La Salle have solid basketball programs thus making their encounters close and unpredictable. La Salle leads the tally of championships in the Men's division with 7 to Ateneo's 4. The Ateneo leads in the Juniors' division with 16 to DLSZ's 2.

Men's basketball games between the two in the UAAP are the most anticipated match-ups in the season, with most games being sold out. Both teams are guaranteed to face each other at the elimination round (regular season) twice, while they can meet for a maximum of three times in the playoffs.

The games were played consistently from 1986 until 2006 when La Salle was suspended for fielding two ineligible players.

Since 1986, La Salle leads the rivalry 37–29. Seven La Salle wins from 2003 to 2005 were later forfeited. (If the forfeited games are reversed, the head-to-head record is 36–30 in favor of Ateneo.) [ [http://www.ubelt.com/uaap/mbb/games.aspx?year=2008 UAAP historical results] ]

Elimination round

Playoffs

ee also

*La Salle-UST rivalry

References