SINCE the competitive modern-day iteration of the Battle of Katipunan in 2018, the University of the Philippines and Ateneo have faced off 21 times, including playoffs and finals.
The head-to-head record? Blue Eagles with 12 wins over the Fighting Maroons’ nine, on top of an even 1-1 split in two championship series contested.
Ateneo won seven in succession within this period but fast forward to UAAP Seasons 86 and 87, and State U has prevailed in the last four.
With that, Katipunan’s longstanding blue colors have faded into maroon.
Never a cakewalk
From squad composition alone this season, fully-loaded UP has a clear edge on paper against a rebuilding Ateneo side with players as young as they come.
And this has reflected in back-to-back double-digit wins for the Fighting Maroons, including their most recent 75-47 second round win which marked champion coach Tab Baldwin’s worst-ever UAAP defeat.
READ: UP hands Ateneo worst loss in Tab era to sweep Battle of Katipunan
Nonetheless, the Iskos refuse to take their neighbors-turned-rivals for granted.
UP’s longest-serving player in JD Cagulangan is far from satisfied by mere numbers and results because when it comes to facing the Blue Eagles, nothing will ever be handed on a silver platter.
“Happy, pero hindi ganun ka-contented kasi kapag Ateneo talaga kalaban, papahirapan at papahirapan ka. Either malakas man ‘yung lineup nila o hindi, naglalaro sila sa talagang style nila,” Cagulangan - who, coming from La Salle as well, has been a blue-and-white rival for even longer - told SPIN.ph.
“Ang dami naming na-learn about sa Ateneo kapag kalaban namin sila kasi ang dami nilang ginagawang depensa at ang bilis nilang magpalit ng depensa.
“Unti-unti rin kaming natututo sa kung anong ginagawa nila at sa mga challenges na ‘yun. Napapaisip din talaga kami namin kung paano namin i-oovercome ‘yung mga ganung sitwasyon.”
Still worthy rivals
For his part, Fighting Maroons skipper Gerry Abadiano knows for a fact that even if there are more new faces for Ateneo, it's still that Ateneo team that takes pride in a winning culture solidified by Baldwin at the helm through the years.
“Nagkataon lang na ‘yun ‘yung team ng Ateneo at nagkataon lang din na lumamang kami nang ganun kalaki,” Abadiano told SPIN.ph.
“Knowing naman Ateneo and coach Tab, kahit wala silang ganung player na malakas nila, kaya nila i-prove yung team nila na malakas talaga sila. Nagkataon lang talaga na lumamang kami nang malaki and sumu-shoot lang mga tira namin."
The maroon-and-green captain furthered, “Coming to this game talaga, hindi namin in-undestimate yung Ateneo. Siguro, pinagkaiba lang sa’min is more focused lang kami ngayon sa ginagawa namin. Same lang naman na sistema, ganun pa rin naman. ‘Yung coach, ganun pa rin naman.”
May it be against the Blue Eagles or any other team in the league today, the goal remains crystal clear for Abadiano and UP.
As he put it, “‘Yung goal namin, hindi naman talaga Ateneo lang, La Salle lang, o kahit sinong kalaban lang. ‘Yung goal namin is’ yung championship talaga.”
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