Green and Yellow.

For the past few weeks, the game venues of the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball finals have been engulfed primarily by these two colors.

After a grueling season of drama and gut wrenching basketball action, the Green-Blooded from Taft and Yellow-Hearted from España met again in the Finals for the first time since 1999 in what was an instant epic finals showdown.

But apart from the usual 5 player team that battles on the court for ultimate basketball supremacy day in and day out, the crowd, or what most people refer to as the Sixth man, plays a key role in every team’s triumph and downfall. Whether it be for prideful cheering or the frequent jeers, the crowd is there to support their team no matter what. Given this, how much effect do they have on the game?

A lot.

The crowd today was no different than the crowd in the first two championship games. You can already see people wearing their respective yellow and green shirts and jackets even hours before the actual game begin. Thousands cheering UST’s famous “Go USTe!” chant was excitingly defeaning whilst the plethora of La Salle faithfuls held their ground and cheered “Animo La Salle!” all game long. We were definitely up for an exciting match-up, on and off the court.

Everything that happens in this world has an equal and opposite reaction, and the same holds through inside the four corners of the Mall of Asia Arena. A three point shot from Almond Vosotros or an lightning-fast drive from Jeron Teng will surely send those in Green in a wild cheering frenzy whilst a long ranged shot from Kevin Ferrer or a medium ranged jumper from King Tiger Jeric Teng will drive Thomasians even crazier.

Both crowds were equally alive during the first quarter until UST started their run towards half time. As UST’s lead grew, so did the amount of cheers from the Tigers. The La Salle crowd sat in silence, and every effort to jumpstart another cheer was overshadowed by UST. The Tigers were definitely cheering loud, and cheering with pride.

But something happened. Slowly but surely, La Salle climbed an incredibly steep mountain, closing on to UST within a point right after the third canto. La Salle reclaimed the Mall of Asia Arena once again, and they were determined to not let go this time.

Bucket after bucket and cheer after cheer and as the minutes died down, the cheers from both squads went even louder.

“I’ve never heard the La Salle crowd cheer this loud in a long, long time,” said a proud alumnus in the crowd.

The game stayed leveled for most of the fourth quarter. And just when we thought that things couldn’t get any more intense, it did.

Reminiscent of La Salle’s 1999 championship against the same opponents, the game went to overtime.

Points were hard to come by in the overtime period. After a confusing scramble down the post, Almond Vosotros finally scored the first basket for either side before UST scored two consecutive baskets to put them back on top at 69-67.

But La Salle wasn’t finished, and a jumper by Almond plus a conversion by LA Revilla finally put the Archers seconds away from their first championship in 5 years.

The inevitable finally happened. Karim missed a potential championship winning basket, sending the championship back to Taft.

“Hail, hail…”

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It is done. The game is over, and everything that both squads have worked hard for finally paid off. UST may not have won, but their determination to get to the finals was an incredibly valiant effort and will forever be remembered by fans and non-fans alike.

La Salle’s rookie coach finally flashed a smile. But what happened next was even more surprising. As the Archers continue to celebrate, a familiar cheer, UST’s Go USTe, erupted in La Salle’s side, creating a beautiful harmony that both squads appreciated and will surely be one of the highlights of this epic basketball series.

The crowd from any of the league’s member schools is ready to support and will surely cheer (and jeer) to the death. The basketball season may be over, but the cheering will remain. Whatever your cheer is, whether it be “One for UST!” or “Animo La Salle,” school pride will surely prevail.