Today is another day inside the house. One of my friends asked me to go to the “Animo Ateneo Night” but my parents didn’t allow me to because nobody’s gonna fetch me. Well, to brighten up this day, I’ll just tell you my story which I call “My UAAP season 69 Experience.”

Before, I don’t watch the UAAP coz I don’t actually like basketball. I only started watching it when I was in fourth year high school (which was last 2005). The story goes like this. My computer was in a disaster and needed to be fixed so we called our neighbor, kuya jeff, a computer technician. He said that my computer is in need of reformatting and so he did it. The process was so long that’s why I turned the TV on first so that he could watch something while waiting. I was going through different channels and then stopped it in studio 23. They were currently airing a UAAP game and I thought that kuya jeff would like to watch it cause guys usually like basketball. But instead of him watching, I was the one hooked up with the game. It was my first time to watch a full game and it was between Ateneo and La Salle so it was really entertaining. From then on, I never stopped watching basketball, may it be PBL, PBA or even NBA.

Now that I’m in college and my school’s one of the teams in the UAAP, I’m more excited and more eager to watch the games. But I was only watching it on TV cause I’m busy with my studies cause I was just adjusting in college life. Then, one day, my friend Rachelle asked me if I want to watch the game between UP and Ateneo and so I immediately agreed. The game was so great as well as the players. Of course, there’s one player that really caught my eye. It’s none other than Chris Tiu # 17 of the Ateneo Blue Eagles (I really yearn for chinitos?!). I knew him already. I have seen him in magazines and stuffs but his face was still chubby there so I didn’t notice him much. Besides, he didn’t play last year, the year when I started watching bball. When I saw him in that game, he was really handsome coz his cheeks got more intact and he had more muscles. Now, I really love him and I admit that I’m a big fan of his and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

And so I continued watching the UAAP and at long last, the finals came and obviously, the Ateneo Blue Eagles got a place in the finals. I asked my friends if they want to want to watch the finals and they certainly agreed for it’s my treat. Everyday I called the ticketnet if they already sell tickets and everyday they also replied that they do not sell tickets yet. Then one day, I called again and they said it was already sold out! What? How could that be? I inquired to them every single day then it’s sold out in less than half a day?! I finally realized that it’s not that easy to get tickets for it’s the finals which everybody awaits for. Besides they sell the tickets to the schools (ADMU & UST) both of which is not my school (I’m from UP). So what I did is I came on the day of the Game 1 and fall in line for almost an hour just to get tickets for me and my friends. However, I only got the general admission. But it’s ok. At least we were able to watch the game.

My friends and I really enjoyed watching game 1. We were laughing all along coz we don’t know the cheers. We even got balloons for ourselves though we’re not really Ateneans. We went inside the coliseum around 2pm so we were able to watch the juniors’ game. We cheered for the Ateneo Blue eaglets of course but we reserved our loudest for the Blue eagles! When the players of the Blue eagles entered the court I was really screaming at the top of my voice especially for Chris. The game started after several minutes. At first, Ateneo’s score was several points higher than that of the UST’s, but on the second half the world turned and UST was leading. Then UST got a 1 point lead over Ateneo in the last 4 seconds. With Ateneo having only 1 second to do a winning shot (which is most unlikely to happen), the UST crowd was already screaming and rejoicing. I was losing hope too, but I said to myself that impossible is nothing for the Blue Eagles. It is true then. Macky Escalona passed the ball to an unguarded Doug Kramer making him able to do a shot under the basket which made them win over UST by 1 point lead. It was really heart pounding and all but it is the best of all the three games I may say.

The second game was supposed to be scheduled on Sept. 28, but due to typhoon Milenyo it was postponed and was moved on Sept. 30. This time we were able to acquire Upper Box A tickets using our connections inside ticketnet. I waited for my friend, Rachelle, and then we picked up the tickets in the Aurora Tower. We headed on the Araneta Coliseum immediately. When went upstairs, we saw people selling Ateneo jerseys. I wanted to buy one but it’s expensive so we just entered. Inside, we can’t find seats with great view so we just sat on the aisle on the middle wherein we can see the court fully. Luckily, a guy (who’s wearing a jersey signed by Chris!) offered us his seat. Before the game starts, they were giving out balloons and pompoms and of course we got lots of them! Hahaha! Then the junior’s game started. There were people screaming on our back. They were cheering for a player name Enzo Katipunan who’s their relative they said. After almost two hours, the game was ended and the Ateneo Blue eaglets got the championship over the FEU baby tamaraws. I was expecting the same for the Blue Eagles but it didn’t happen. Ateneo lost to UST by 16 points. I think it’s the referee’s fault. They were always calling fouls on the Blue Eagles (Chris got 4 personal fouls, imagine?). My friend said that maybe the referees want to extend the finals so that they would still have work! Hahaha! After that bad game, we went downstairs. I was thinking maybe I could see Chris on the gate but I didn’t. Instead we saw other personalities like, Mar Roxas, Korina Sanchez, Wacky of PBBteens and many more.

During the third game, I almost went crazy in finding tickets. I had connections in the ticketnet but they too were not able to acquire any. So my friend and I waited for scalpers who could sell us tickets but there where none. There were only students who’re bidding their tickets. They were selling it ten times the original price (what the hell?). Luckily, someone gave us a ticket for free, but it was only one and there were two of us. After talking for a time, my friend decided to gave me the ticket and that she would just go back to school coz she still has a class. I went to game 3 all alone. But I have no regrets coz I really had a great experience. When I went inside, the coliseum was already full and loaded with people so I just stood up during the entire game (that was 3 hours so my feet really hurt after!). The game started with Ateneo leading by several points. Then the lead got down again just like in the first game. They were simply exchanging leads. UST shoots 2 points and Ateneo answers back with a 3 point shot and vice versa. The game even went overtime. But it wasn’t really Ateneo’s game. It’s really all the referees’ fault. They were calling fouls which is so unreasonable! Chris was even fouled out in the last minute! But what can we do, it’s already finished. UST won over Ateneo (really a big surprise to most people!). I was just so sad when I saw JC crying. He carried the team all along. It’s his last year in Ateneo and he wasn’t able bring home the championship. It’s really hard on his part, as well as Macky & Doug, who’re also playing their last year, to accept defeat. Though they didn’t get it, I’ll still support them. As their alma mater song goes, “win or lose it’s the school we choose!” Go Ateneo, One Big Fight!

I know my story is so long but I consider it one of the greatest days of my college life. I just hope next season will be just as good as this season especially when La Salle makes a comeb