La Salle celebrates athletes’ triumph in Animo Night

Thousands of students fill the lovely Henry Sy Sr. Hall in La Salle’s campus Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, to celebrate the triumphs of the Lasallian athletes in the UAAP. The celebration, dubbed as “Animo Night,” feted the athletes who brought honors for the the school in the first semester of competition. Video by Celest R. Flores/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Thousands of students, mostly clad in green and white, filled the lovely Henry Sy Sr. Hall in La Salle’s campus Thursday to celebrate the triumphs of the Lasallian athletes in the UAAP.

In a celebration dubbed as “Animo Night,” students and fans alike gathered to fete the athletes who brought for the La Salle in the first semester of competition.

“We will not have a bonfire, but let’s keep the animo burning in our hearts,” said La Salle president Brother Ricky Laguda in a speech.

While it was a night for all, the recently crowned men’s basketball team, no doubt, was the centerpiece.

The entire Green Archers team, all dressed proudly in green, was presented on along with their head coach Juno Sauler, who became known for his stoic demeanor in the sidelines.

A huge photo of a broadly smiling Sauler, though, was bannered on stage the entire night with the words emblazoned “the smile of hard earned success.”

La Salle defeated a valiant foe in University of Santo Tomas, and “go USTe” chants from the Lasallians even reached Taft.

But La Salle also recognized the hardworking athletes from other sports who bolstered the Archers’ campaign in the overall race after the first semester of events, and gave a send-off to their peers competing starting this November.

All sports were represented in a symbolic torch lighting ceremony through their team captains.

The music-filled night ended with a heartfelt performance from singer and proud alumnus Gary Valenciano, who belted out a song about the Green and White.

“It’s a song I’ve always wanted to sing, and this is the best time to sing it,” said Valenciano, who also led the singing of the La Salle hymn.

A brief fireworks display capped the proud gathering.