Ateneo setter Jia Morado. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net
A rivalry as intense as Ateneo versus De La Salle is sure to provide fireworks and it’s not only the players who get into the spirit of the game, but also the fans who will passionately cheer and jeer any team.
Game 1 on Saturday was no exception as Smart Araneta Coliseum became a center of boos in the first match between the Lady Eagles and the Lady Spikers in the Season 78 UAAP Women’s Volleyball Championship.
Booing was so intense within the arena it even drowned out the two schools’ drum corps and one Lady Eagle wasn’t appreciative of it.
Ateneo setter Jia Morado said Monday at Blue Eagle Gym the jeering from both camps was too much it was almost disrespectful to the sport.
“What we didn’t appreciate last game was the booing that came from both sides, sa totoo lang sport siya eh and why waste your time booing when you can cheer for whoever you’re supporting,” Morado said.
“If you cheer for them [Lady Spikers] we have no problem with that, if they cheer for us we don’t have a problem with that either.”
There were 19,921 people who watched La Salle beat up Ateneo 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 and Morado said it only takes one person to start a riot of negativity.
Whenever a player steps up to the service line a heckler would start the chant and wherever section that person was it instantly became a sector of negativity.
“The booing has to stop kasi ang sama ng dating eh,” Morado said. “Kasi if one person boos, the whole side nadadamay. It doesn’t help anyone, I don’t get what satisfaction you guys get from booing, it’s something that has to stop.”
“Uncalled for lang, why can’t we enjoy the sport that both teams are playing because we both love the sport, everyone loves the sport, just love no need for hate.”