To continue my previous blog on "It's Only During La Salle-Ateneo..."

When display of school pride even extends to their respective homes...

When the VIPs find the time to troop to the Big Dome with their bodyguards altogether...

When the country's most popular athlete gets sponsored by the country's largest telecommunications company just to grace the occasion...

When school mascots make their very special and rare appearance... (yeah, because it's too hot in there!)

When a player of Gilbert Arenas' stature also makes a ringside appearance...

When every car fights for every inch of parking space due to FULL PARKING... and see luxury cars parked at non-designated parking areas like the one above...

When former players make time to watch the games and be rekindled with their fans...

No doubt, the La Salle-Ateneo rivalry is the country's fiercest, most heated and most long-standing rivalry not only in collegiate basketball, but also in the entire local basketball scene. Dating back to the 70s when the two teams were still battling it out in the NCAA, which came before the birth of the UAAP, La Salle and Ateneo games have always been tagged a classic. Thus, in every La Salle-Ateneo game in the UAAP, it's as if the majority of our countrymen freezes and postpones their activities for a few hours just to zero in on their television sets, in the same magnitude as when each time Manny Pacquiao fights for the country's pride or when the President of the Philippines delivers a State of the Nation address (SONA).

It is because of this unparalleled intensity that I thought of doing a blog article about "Only During La Salle-Ateneo". Indeed, there are a lot of scenarios which only happen, or at least pre-dominantly happen, during La Salle-Ateneo games - be it on or off the hardcourt. The essence of every La Salle-Ateneo battle has reached to a level where both of the teams' players, their legions of fans including as well, enter into a different level of fan-hysteria. Yes, even those who are normally very apathetic to the Green Archers and the UAAP games in general suddenly becomes keenly interested on getting tickets prior to every La Salle-Ateneo battle just to be able to catch the fever and well, be part of the "in-crowd".

Having covered the UAAP season over the last few years, I have caught several unique pictures which would depict unique moments which only happen, or at least, most oftentimes happen, during La Salle contra Ateneo, which has been already branded "a scalper's delight".

Thus, in anticipation of the La Salle-Ateneo fever for UAAP Season 71, I would like to start this photo blog showcasing pictures of "It's Only During La Salle-Ateneo...", and will continue to be on the hunt for very distinct scenarios starting the very first Green vs. Blue game tomorrow.

Should any of you shutterbugs out there have unique photos to share as well, feel free to compound on my blog and let's see if we can amass enough photos in time for the UAAP finals to come up with a photo judging contest based on fan votes, ala Pinoy Big Brother. Paging the administrators...

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ONLY DURING LA SALLE-ATENEO

When tempers flare and scuffles erupt in a matter of seconds...

But they will all be forgotten right after the heat of the game has subsided...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo...

When a display of school pride extends to the young tots of the alumni...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo...

When the Big Dome is literally packed to the rafters....

Only during La Salle-Ateneo...

Where even the oldies suddenly feel a resurgence of their youth in them...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo

Where even seemingly-harmless mascots have learned the art of taunting the rival fans...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo

Where die-hard fans spray paint their faces using "I don't know what's composed of it" chemicals yet it doesn't really matter - just to support their alma mater...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo

When a lead as big as this in the first half of an elimination round game feels like as if having won the UAAP championship already...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo

When the former Green Archers come out to watch....

And of course, the celebrity alumni as well... and it runs in the family...

Only during La Salle-Ateneo

Where the most highfaluting of promotional strategies are executed by the country's biggest advertisers to target the A-B audience...

MORE TO COME! :)