Golden trophy for amazing Blue Eagles

MANILA, Philippines — The fierce rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle took a wholesome twist when La Salle alumnus Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. presented a P2.7 Million, 14-karat golden trophy to the Eagles in a gesture of sportsmanship at the end of the closely-fought UAAP Finals clincher before 22,012 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

Cojuangco volunteered to donate the 15-inch UAAP championship trophy for six straight years. He broached the idea to this year’s UAAP president Anton Montinola of host school FEU during the season and the Board of Managing Directors later welcomed the offer in a meeting. The Board suggested for Cojuangco to donate the trophy for eight years since there are eight UAAP schools and the San Miguel Corp. chairman agreed. “For as long as I’m still alive,” he said in jest.

Aside from the yearly trophy, Cojuangco said San Miguel Corp. will donate a perpetual trophy for any school that wins three consecutive titles in the men’s basketball competition. The perpetual trophy is now being crafted by Suarez and Sons of Cebu at a cost of P5.8 Million. It will be at least 17 inches tall and made of 14-karat solid gold.

Cojuangco said he thought of donating the annual trophy to symbolize what every UAAP school is fighting for. The handsome trophy shows the UAAP logo emblazoned on a golden basketball and the logos of each UAAP school on the eight columns that highlight the shaft of the prize. He said the cost of the trophy may vary from year to year because of the fluctuating price of gold.

Initially, Montinola said he would call for a special presentation to award the trophy at a later date from the championship game. But at the sidelines of Ateneo’s celebration last Sunday, Cojuangco brought out the trophy to show to Ateneo president Fr. Jett Villarin and Ateneo’s representatives in the UAAP Board of Managing Directors Emmanuel Fernandez and Erika Dy. Then and there, it was decided to present the trophy to the Eagles.

Ateneo alumnus and patron Manny V. Pangilinan was at the center of the court with the Eagles when Cojuangco handed over the trophy to Fr. Villarin. Cojuangco held out his hand to congratulate Pangilinan as supporters of both schools applauded the display of sportsmanship.

That night, La Salle Manila president Br. Ray Suplido ordered the flooding of blue light on the Taft campus’ façade to honor Ateneo’s victory. Br. Suplido said the idea of the blue lighting came from La Salle Zobel president Br. Bernie Oca. The order was to flood the façade with green light if La Salle won and blue light if Ateneo won.

“Thank you La Salle for such a gracious and sportsmanlike gesture, an example to emulate,” said Pangilinan in a tweet. PLDT head of business transformation Ricky Vargas said, “I saw Mr. Cojuangco approach MVP and shook hands with the Ateneo players. What a class act. A heart of a true sportsman and gentleman. La Salle did not win the championship and they bowed out but definitely not in shame. They will be a much better team next year. They respected the game and played their hearts out.”

Ateneo Sports Hall of Famer and former Department of Trade undersecretary Tito Panlilio said, “Class act of La Salle to turn blue lights for us. Great God is good to all. Wish one day, our players can get together for a Mass thanksgiving for an epic competition with nobody hurt or injured. La Salle was gentlemanly in the outcome.”