Ateneo Blue Eagles
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are the collegiate varsity teams of the Ateneo de Manila University that play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the premiere collegiate league in the Philippines. The collegiate women's varsity basketball team is called the Lady Eagles. The Ateneo collegiate men's varsity basketball team was not always called the Blue Eagles. It got the name Blue Eagles when Ateneo adopted the Eagle as its mascot in 1938. Prior to that, from 1914 it was known under different names.
| Ateneo Blue Eagles | |
|---|---|
| School | Ateneo de Manila University |
| League | UAAP |
| Joined | 1978 (NCAA founding member – 1924) |
| Location | Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City |
| Venue/s | Moro Lorenzo Sports Center Blue Eagle Gym |
| Team colors | Blue and White |
| Fight song | Blue Eagle the King |
| Women's team | Blue Eagles |
| Juniors' team | Blue Eagles |
Seniors' general championships | |
Ateneo has fifteen collegiate men's varsity teams that participate in fifteen sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, its mother league.
Team identity edit
Team monikers edit
When Ateneo started to participate in intercollegiate sports in 1914, its varsity basketball teams were simply referred to by the school community as the Ateneo Seniors and Ateneo Juniors. They were later dubbed the Blue and Whites by the sports press in the early 1920s when Ateneo joined sports leagues. When Ateneo adopted the Eagle as its mascot in 1938, the college team was given a new name: Blue Eagles. The Ateneo Blue Eagles are sometimes called the Hail Mary Quintet by the sports press. This moniker was given to the Blue Eagles in 1926 when sports press noticed that the team would pray the Hail Mary (as the school’s patroness is the Immaculate Conception) during game time-outs and would win by the skin of their teeth.[1][2]
Ateneo is one of the four UAAP member schools that participate in all of the fifteen sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Since the Eagle is the mascot of all the varsity teams participating in these sporting events all of them are called Blue Eagles.[3] However, the Guidon which is the school's official student publications have given them specific names to differentiate them when news about their games are reported. They are as follows:
| Sport | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | Blue Eagles | Lady Eagles |
| Football | Blue Booters | Lady Booters |
| Volleyball | Blue Spikers | Lady Eagles |
| Beach Volleyball | Blue Beach Spikers | Lady Beach Spikers |
| Baseball | Blue Batters | No Team |
| Softball | No team | Lady Batters |
| Badminton | Blue Shuttlers | Lady Shuttlers |
| Tennis | Blue Netters | Lady Netters |
| Table Tennis | Blue Paddlers | Lady Paddlers |
| Track & Field | Blue Tracksters | Lady Tracksters |
| Swimming | Blue Tankers | Lady Tankers |
| Fencing | Blue Fencers | Lady Fencers |
| Judo | Blue Judokas | Lady Judokas |
| Taekwondo | Blue Jins | Lady Jins |
| Chess | Blue Woodpushers | Lady Woodpushers |
Beginning with UAAP Season 84 in May 2022, Ateneo de Manila University officially decided to unify student athletes and varsity teams under the "Blue Eagles" moniker moving forward, regardless of sport, gender, or age group.[4][5][6][7]
Mascot and colors edit
Ateneo has long been involved in intercollegiate sports dating back to 1914. It was a pioneer in Philippine collegiate sports. Ateneo was the first Philippine school to adopt a mascot, and was also the first school to field an organized cheering squad with cheerleaders which was later followed by another first when it introduced a Pep Band to augment the cheerleaders during games.[8][9][10][11]
The choice of an eagle as school mascot holds iconic significance. Conferred with the title "the King", the Blue Eagle is a reference to the "high-flying" Ateneo varsity teams which would "swoop down on the foe and sweep up the fields away" as a dominating force in the field of sports. Furthermore, there is some mythological significance to the eagle as a symbol of power.[10]
The school used to have live eagles as pets in the former Padre Faura campus and later on at the Grade School campus in Loyola Heights. A live eagle would lead the men's varsity basketball team at the start of a game in the NCAA as the team enters the basketball court for their warm-up with the school Band playing the fight song, "Blue Eagle – The King".[10]
Blue and White, being the colors of the school's patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, were chosen as the school's colors. Thus blue and white are the colors of the uniforms of the varsity teams. Most of the school songs, yells and cheers have the words blue and white.
Athletic associations edit
Collegiate leagues edit
The Ateneo de Manila University is a member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the premiere sports league in the country. It fields teams in all fifteen sporting events of the league. Ateneo was a founding member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which was established in 1924. It left the NCAA in 1978 due to the league-wide violence prevalent at the time, and then joined the UAAP in the same year.[12]
Other tournaments edit
Aside from the UAAP, the Ateneo Blue Eagles also participates during the UAAP preseason in other sports leagues/tournaments such as the Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Cup, SMART City Hoops Summer Classic, Breakdown Basketball Invitationals, Philippine Collegiate Championship League (PCCL), Premier Volleyball League, Rizal Football Association (RIFA).[citation needed]
Team sports edit
Basketball edit
Volleyball edit
The Ateneo Volleyball Program enjoyed a modest success in the NCAA, having won a total of nine championships during a ten-year period from 1967 to 1976. The men's team had two titles and one from the women's, while the juniors team had won six titles. Ateneo dominated NCAA volleyball in the mid-1970s. In the UAAP, Ateneo has won five championships so far since transferring from the NCAA in 1978. These titles were won by the Lady Eagle Spikers in Season 76 (2013–14),[13] Season 77 (2014–15)[14] and Season 81 (2018–19)[15] and by the Blue Eagle Spikers in Season 77 (2014–15),[16] Season 78 (2015–16) and Season 79 (2016–17), finally ending a title drought of more than 30 years in UAAP volleyball.[17]
Championships edit
| Blue Spikers | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA (2) |
| [18] [16] |
| UAAP (3) |
| |
| Lady Eagles | ||
| NCAA (1) | Season 52 (1976–77) | [13] [14] [15] [18] |
| UAAP (3) |
| |
Double Championships edit
| Blue Spikers / Lady Eagles | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA Season (1) | Season 52 (1976–77) | [18] |
| UAAP Season (1) | Season 77 (2014–15) | [14] [16] |
UAAP Finals Appearances edit
| Finals Appearances | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Eagles (5) |
| [19] |
| Lady Blue Eagles (7) |
| [20][21][13][14][22][23][15] |
The Ateneo Blue Eagles Volleyball Team edit
The men's volleyball team were back-to-back champions in NCAA Seasons 51 and 52, and were 3-peat champions in UAAP Seasons 77 to 79.[17] The Blue Eagles were also able to achieve a perfect season in the UAAP Season 79 men's volleyball tournament.[17]
The Ateneo Blue Eagles Volleyball Team edit
The Ateneo Lady Eagles Volleyball Team edit
Football edit
The Ateneo varsity football teams have won a total 19 championships, 9 in the NCAA and 10 in the UAAP. In the NCAA, the seniors have won 6 titles. The Blue Booters were the first to win a football championship in the NCAA when they won the title on the maiden season of the NCAA in 1924. They also won their first back-to-back (1953 and 1954) championship in the NCAA. In the UAAP, the seniors (men) have won 8 titles. The Blue Booters were three-peat champions after winning in Seasons 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06, a record that still holds today. Football was introduced in the UAAP Juniors Division as a demonstration sport in season 70 (2007–08) and declared a regular sport in season 72 (2009–10)
Football Championships
| Blue Booters
| Blue Booters
| Lady Blue Booters |
Notable football players edit
- Men's Division
Baseball edit
Baseball Championships edit
| Blue Batters | |
|---|---|
| NCAA Season (2) |
|
| UAAP Season (4) |
|
Notable baseball players edit
Men's Division edit
Women's Division edit
Rankings edit
This is Ateneo's ranking in the team sports in the UAAP since 1986, the year the UAAP became an eight member-school league:
| UAAP Season | Basketball | Football | Volleyball | Baseball | Softball | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's | Women's | Men's | Women's | Men's | Women's | Men's | Women's | |
| 49 (1986–87) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
| 50 (1987–88) | 1st | 2nd | 5th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 5th | Unknown |
| 51 (1988–89) | 1st | Unknown | 4th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 5th | Unknown |
| 52 (1989–90) | 4th | Unknown | 2nd | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 4th | Unknown |
| 53 (1990–91) | 3rd | Unknown | 5th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 5th | Unknown |
| 54 (1991–92) | 5th | Unknown | 4th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 5th | Unknown |
| 55 (1992–93) | 5th | Unknown | 6th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 6th | Unknown |
| 56 (1993–94) | 6th | Unknown | 7th | Unknown | 8th | 6th | 6th | Unknown |
| 57 (1994–95) | 6th | Unknown | 6th | Unknown | 6th | 5th | 6th | Unknown |
| 58 (1995–96) | 7th | Unknown | 1st | Unknown | 8th | 5th | 6th | Unknown |
| 59 (1996–97) | 5th | 7th | 2nd | 2nd | Did not join | 5th | 6th | 5th |
| 60 (1997–98) | 6th | Unknown | 2nd | Unknown | 8th | Did not join | 6th | Unknown |
| 61 (1998–99) | 6th | 7th | 1st | 4th | 8th | 8th | 6th | 6th |
| 62 (1999–00) | 3rd | Unknown | 2nd | Unknown | 8th | 8th | 6th | Unknown |
| 63 (2000–01) | 3rd | Unknown | 2nd | Unknown | 8th | 8th | 6th | Unknown |
| 64 (2001–02) | 2nd | Unknown | 3rd | Unknown | 8th | 6th | 6th | Unknown |
| 65 (2002–03) | 1st | Unknown | 2nd | Unknown | 8th | 6th | 5th | Unknown |
| 66 (2003–04) | 2nd | Unknown | 1st | Unknown | 8th | 6th | 6th | Unknown |
| 67 (2004–05) | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | Unknown | 8th | 7th | 4th | Unknown |
| 68 (2005–06) | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 5th | 8th | 6th | 3rd | 6th |
| 69 (2006–07) | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 5th | 5th | 4th | 5th |
| 70 (2007–08) | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 4th | 7th | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 71(2008–09) | 1st | 6th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 5th | 3rd | 5th |
| 72 (2009–10) | 1st | 6th | 4th | 5th | 3rd | 3rd | 6th | 5th |
| 73 (2010–11) | 1st | 7th | 6th | 4th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 5th |
| 74 (2011–12) | 1st | 5th | 5th | 5th | 7th | 2nd | 2nd | 5th |
| 75 (2012–13) | 1st | 4th | 1st | 4th | 6th | 2nd | 1st | 6th |
| 76 (2013–14) | 5th | 8th | 7th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 7th |
| 77 (2014–15) | 4th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 7th |
| 78 (2015–16) | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 7th |
| 79 (2016–17) | 2nd | 6th | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 7th |
| 80 (2017–18) | 1st | 6th | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | 7th |
| 81 (2018–19) | 1st | 6th | 1st | 5th | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 7th |
| 82 (2019–20) | 1st | 6th | ||||||
Championships edit
Overall/General Championships
Ateneo has not won a UAAP General Championship in the seniors division since joining the UAAP in 1978. Its best finish was a third place in Season 75 (2012–13) and Season 79 (2016–17).
- Seniors:
- NCAA (1) – 1968–69
- 3x3 Basketball Championships
- Men's: (Tournaments from 2017–18 until 2018–19 were classified as a Demonstration Sport)
- UAAP (1) – 2018–19
- Basketball Championships
- Men's:
- NCAA (14) – 1928–29, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1941–42, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1969–70, 1975–76, 1976–77
- UAAP (12) – 1987–88, 1988–89, 2002–03, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23[citation needed]
- Women's:
- UAAP (2) – 2005–06, 2007–08
- Baseball Championships
- Men's:
- NCAA (2) – 1927–28, 1965–66
- UAAP (4) – 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17
- Football Championships
- Men's:
- NCAA (6) – 1924–25, 1941–42, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1967–68
- UAAP (8) – 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2018–19
- Volleyball Championships
- Men's:
- NCAA (2) – 1975–76, 1976–77
- UAAP (3) – 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
- Women's:
- NCAA (1) – 1976–77
- UAAP (3) – 2013–14, 2014–15, 2018–19
- Badminton Championships
- Men's:
- UAAP (7) – 1995–96, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2023–24[citation needed]
- Women's:
- UAAP (7) – 2003–04, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23, 2023–24[citation needed]
- Lawn Tennis Championships
- Men's:
- NCAA (1) – 1939–40
- UAAP (1) – 2000–01
- Fencing Championships
- Women's:
- UAAP (2) – 2006–07, 2018–19
- Swimming Championships
- Men's:
- UAAP (9) – 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23, 2023–24[citation needed]
- Women's:
- UAAP (6) – 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Judo Championships
- Men's:
- UAAP (8) – 1997–98, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18
- Athletics (track and field) Championships
- Men's: (Tournaments from 1925–26 until 1952–53 consisted of events in relay and track and field)
- NCAA (9) – 1925–56 (relay), 1934–35 (relay), 1949–50 (T/F), 1960–61, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70
Sports traditions edit
The Ateneo has several traditions related to sports. Most of these traditions have been introduced by the American Jesuits after they took over the administration of Ateneo in 1912.
References edit
- ^ "Ateneo de Manila University". ateneo.edu.
- ^ "Five-peat". July 21, 2012.
- ^ "Blue Eagle flying high". The GUIDON.
- ^ "It's official: Ateneo teams to be called 'Blue Eagles'". ABS-CBN News. May 5, 2022.
- ^ "All Ateneo varsity teams to be called 'Blue Eagles'". Inquirer. May 5, 2022.
- ^ "Ateneo unites all varsity teams under one Blue Eagles banner". SPIN.ph. May 5, 2022.
- ^ "All Ateneo student-athletes to be called Blue Eagles". Tiebreaker Times. May 5, 2022.
- ^ Roman A. Cruz, Jr. "The Ateneo Story." Aegis. 1959
- ^ "Ateneo de Manila University".
- ^ a b c . Archived from the original on December 14, 2010.
- ^ "Ateneo de Manila University".
- ^ Liao, Henry (July 15, 2013). "NCAA's tragic seasons". Bandera-Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Razon, Chino (March 16, 2014). "The heart of a champion is strong: Ateneo Women's Volleyball Team bag Season 76 crown". The GUIDON. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Decangchon/Aycardo, Faith/Lorenzo (March 15, 2015). "Ateneo Lady Eagles crowned as UAAP Season 77 champions". The GUIDON. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Lising, Charmie (May 18, 2019). "Lady Eagles pummel Golden Tigresses to clinch UAAP women's volleyball title". ESPN. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Ganglani, Naveen (March 7, 2015). "Ateneo reigns supreme in UAAP men's volleyball". Rappler. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Leongson, Randolph B. (May 6, 2017). "Perfect Ateneo pulls off UAAP men's volley three-peat". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Bonfire blues". BusinessMirror. March 22, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Naredo, Camille B. (May 2, 2018). "UAAP volleyball: What's next for Ateneo's Marck Espejo?". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Naredo, Camille B. (March 1, 2012). "La Salle blasts Ateneo to retain volleyball crown". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Bello, Raizza P. (March 10, 2013). "Lady Spikers bow to three-peat champs De La Salle University". The GUIDON. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Ganglani, Naveen (April 30, 2016). "La Salle reclaims UAAP title after defeating Ateneo". Rappler. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Camille B. Naredo, Faith/Lorenzo (May 6, 2017). "UAAP women's volleyball: La Salle rallies past Ateneo to win championship". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
External links edit
Media related to Ateneo Blue Eagles at Wikimedia Commons