‘Go USTe’, ‘Go La Salle’ as Tigers, Archers clash in UAAP Finals

Fans of UST and La Salle fill up the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City to cheer for their teams who, after six years, will fight for the right to be crowned champion in the UAAP basketball seniors’ event. Game 1 Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, went to the Tigers who will try to win it all on Saturday. Video by INQUIRER.net’s Noy Morcoso lll

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time in six years, it was a sea of yellow and green that enveloped the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the UAAP men’s basketball finals.

Thousands of fans, either cheering for La Salle or University of Santo Tomas, rocked the Big Dome on a Wednesday afternoon with the alternating cheers and chants of their respective universities.

In an interview with INQUIRER.net before the match, students from the España-based school gave a quick sample of their university’s famous “go USTe” chant.

One of them was Carrissa Turgano, 18, who was hoping the Tigers would show “focus and determination.”

And was UST focused and determined as it snatched game one, 73-72, of the best-of-three finals series against a tough squad like La Salle.

“The UST spirit to win is always there, especially their heart. Thomasians are proud of that big heart,” said Jiro Joaquin, 21, in Filipino.

Students from La Salle also gamely bellowed the “Go La Salle” cheer for INQUIRER.net, which reverberated later on at the venue as the Green Archers patiently climbed up from a 17-point deficit in the first quarter.

But La Salle ultimately fell short, missing on a chance to snatch the game away in the final possession and had its impressive nine-game winning streak snapped.

“It was a pity because they [La Salle] could’ve had a better shot. But as far as I’m concerned, we can always get back. There are still two games left,” said Richard Sy, 19, after the game.

They were just few of the many who trooped to the venue to show their school spirit, which included color-coded balloon clappers, face paint and cleverly made statement shirts.

In return, La Salle and UST gifted the fans with a game that lived up to the theme of all their recent meetings: thrilling and down-the-wire.

The second game, which could either send Tigers’ fans into a frenzy or let Archers’ fans live to cheer another day, is scheduled on Saturday also at the Araneta.