The intense basketball rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle continues in this dazzling city in the Middle East. Dubbed “Down the Wire,” the Blue Eagles and Green Archers will meet in a friendly match on Friday (15 April) at the Al Ahli Sports Club in Al Ghusais, Dubai.
Filipino expats in the UAE, who are avid supporters of Smart Gilas whenever they play in Dubai, are also raring to see live action between the two top rivals in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
In their battle in Dubai, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will be parading an almost intact line-up that gave them the UAAP crown for the past three years. Even though, Ryan Buenafe, last year’s UAAP Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player), will not play due to an injury, Ateneo has added to its already lethal crew Smart Gilas seven-foot center Greg Slaughter and high school standouts Kiefer Ravena, Gwyne Capacio and Cebuano Mark Tallo.
The De La Salle University Green Archers, which boast of a four-peat championship from 1999-2002 and perennial Final Four finish, also remain intact and have added former Junior Archers standouts Arnold Van Opstal, Michael Pate and Papot Paredes to their line-up consisting of Yulien Andrada, Simon Atkins, Luigi dela Paz, Nico Elorde, Sam Marata, LA Revilla, Martin Reyes, Jarelan Tampus, Maui Villanueva, Almond Vosotros and Joshua Webb.
UAE-based Filipino organizer Ramon Pizarras said he had been planning since last year to bring to Dubai the hard court rivalry between the two most prestigious and elite schools in the Philippines.
“I invite all the Filipinos and other basketball-crazy expats to watch the game and see why collegiate basketball is more intense than commercial or professional basketball. The excitement level is high and competition is tough, much like the NCAA Division 1 Basketball in the US,” said Pizarras, who is also chairman of Filipino Basketball Centre in the UAE.
High school students from various Philippine schools in the Emirates will play in the curtain raiser.
United International Private School, the 2011 FISAA (Filipino Inter-School Athletic Association) champion, will face a selection from Filipino Youth Basketball League comprised of students from Far Eastern Private School, The Philippine School and New Filipino Private School.
UIPS Development & Community Relations Manager Jennifer Gonzales told ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau that watching the match between Ateneo and La Salle is beneficial to their students who will eventually go to college in the Philippines. “Feeling ng aming mga estudyante, parang nasa Pilipinas lang din sila,” she said.
“The friendly match will also develop camaraderie among our students, and this will serve as an inspiration to them that they should not only excel academically but in sports as well,” Gonzales added.
Down the Wire is supported by ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel, Majestic Hotel’s Tambayan sa Kanto and the UAE Basketball Federation.
Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
