Hail, Ateneo, hail!

I was sitting in my dorm at noontime deciding whether or not I should go to the gym after math class today when my blockmate, Tina, called me on my cell phone. Apparently she had free, upper box A tickets to the Ateneo-La Salle game (courtesy of Migo–thanks man!), and she was wondering if I wanted to go. What a question. Do I want to get a final grade of D in Math 11? Are the colors of Ateneo blue and white? Hell yeah I wanted to go! :D

Right after math class ended we converged and quickly made our way to the parking lot because the game would be starting in an hour. Though we had a car, we realized that it would be more practical to take the MRT (train) to the game since we’d be avoiding traffic by doing so. I’ve only ridden the MRT once, and I felt like such an ignoramus when I was faced by those big machines where you buy the train tickets. Fortunately, it didn’t take me long to figure out where I should put my money and where I should get my ticket. Thank God–I didn’t want to have to resort to asking someone to buy the ticket for me. The station itself was really nice, clean, and there was hardly any people around. I felt like I was in another country or something. I sure hope they maintain that place, because if they don’t, then it will look dirty and old in just a few years.

When we reached the Araneta Coliseum (the place where the major UAAP basketball games are held), the FEU-UE game was just about ending. It was my first time ever to watch a game there, and the moment I handed in my ticket I started hoarding those free pennants and signs from Globe and Smart so I could use them to decorate my dorm room. The game area itself was a sight. I was overwhelmed by the spectacle of all those people cheering for their respective schools, and the beats of the drums of the schools’ cheering squads. We got good seats–right between the Ateneo and La Salle side–I was in good company, and we were even able to smuggle in some food from McDonalds so we wouldn’t have to buy overpriced Araneta food. It was almost perfect…except for one thing. We didn’t win.

It was a helluva exciting game though! Unlike all the other Ateneo-La Salle games, where you know from the first quarter that my school would win, this was a very close match. Whenever Ateneo would get a two-point lead, La Salle would score a few seconds later and then we’d be even. I guess they’ve been training real hard. The best part was during the last minute and 31 seconds of the game, when one of La Salle’s players shoved a player from Ateneo. A fistfight and riot almost ensued, and then a bunch of SWAT guys started coming so that the situation wouldn’t go out of control! O_o They sure take this basketball thing very seriously, to have SWAT guys standing by and all. By the end of the game, my voice was almost gone, my throat hurt like hell, my feet were sore from my jumping up and down, and the drum beats were still ringing in my ears even though we were already outside the place. But the experience of watching the game inside Araneta itself–not to mention that it was a free ticket too–was definitely worth it.

Tina and I had to go back to school to watch this play, Langit, Lupa, Impiyerno for Filipino class. They’re actually two one-hour plays, and because it was such a bitch finding a taxi who would take us to Ateneo from the MRT station, we missed the first half of the first play (Paraisong Parisukat). But the second play, Mga Santong Tao, was really funny and well-directed. Watching those two plays made me feel really inspired to be part of a theatrical production again, so next week I’m auditioning for a part in Footloose together with my roommate, Marj. Haha, I probably won’t make it but you never know…what have I got to lose (except maybe my pride)?

Argh, I have a headache and a 7:30 a.m. class tomorrow! Guess it’s off to bed for me now.