First meeting vs rival La Salle just a regular game for Ateneo

Thirdy Ravena isn’t new to the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry having played the UAAP’s most hyped about games, including two finals matchups, since 2014.

But Ravena isn’t the one to be caught up in all that drama.

Ravena said the Blue Eagles approached their first matchup against their archrivals in Season 81 the same way they prepared for the other teams.

“The thing that changed was my approach to the game,” said Ravena in Filipino after their dominant 71-55 win Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena. “Coach Tab [Baldwin] said that just because it’s Ateneo-La Salle, [doesn’t mean] that we should treat it differently.”

“We prepared for it and practiced for it the same way we do for other teams.”

Ravena is 5-6 against La Salle in his collegiate career but he got his retribution in Season 80 when the Blue Eagles defeated the Green Archers for the Season 80 championship, where he was also named Finals MVP.

Despite that history, Ravena knows that focusing on the rivalry alone would just throw him and his teammates off from their goal.

“We really don’t think that we’re going up against La Salle because it’s just undue pressure for us,” said Ravena, who finished with nine points, four rebounds, and six assists.

Ravena’s six-assist total is three more than what the Green Archers tallied.

“We just took this as a regular game and you all know the way we approach every game and that is to treat it as a championship game,” said Ravena whose team improved to a 5-1 record.