Ateneo coach Louie Alas couldn’t push the Blue Eagles past La Salle in their UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball clash at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night.
Still, that didn’t take the smile off Alas’ face after experiencing his first Ateneo-La Salle rivalry game as a head coach.
‘Even back then I’ve been watching Ateneo-La Salle and this is the first time I coached in one,’ Alas told the Inquirer.
‘The electricity is just different. It’s different, but we weren’t affected by it. They [La Salle] just played well. I have to congratulate them.’
Alas is no stranger to collegiate rivalries.
During his NCAA coaching days, the veteran tactician called the shots for the Letran Knights, who share a fierce rivalry with the San Beda Red Lions.
Now, just like when he coached his son Kevin at the Knights, Alas is coaching one of his children in Kieffer for Ateneo.
Kieffer, however, struggled mightily in the Blue Eagles’ second loss of the season with five points, six rebounds, and two assists on a lowly 2-for-11 shooting night.
Ateneo’s loss to La Salle leveled the historic rivalry to an equal 50-50 after 100 matches.
The defeat also put the Blue Eagles in a tie with the Green Archers in the standings at 3-2.