Nico Elorde: A gentleman of Blue and Green

Last July 28, after Ateneo topped the DLSU Green Archers 71-61 in UAAP Seniors play, eyebrows were raised when a pint-sized young man in blue began singing the De La Salle alma mater song.

The shot of Nico Elorde pumping his fist along with the green-clad fans in the background made the rounds of social media.

The post of the pic from the DLSU Green Archers on Facebook is up to 931 likes and counting. There are also 53 comments, mostly positive, but with a few that were bitter.

"If he voluntarily crossed over - why would he sing the Green anthem and look at how pursed his lips are... Body language is enough to tell anyone he doesn't like being blue.. well who does di ba? LOL!!!"

Elorde went to high school in De La Salle Zobel and played a year for the senior team before transferring for Basketball reasons. After sitting out last year he gets decent minutes for the Blue Eagles in Season 75.

"Although I have moved to Ateneo I still give respect to the school that molded me since prep and made me the student who I am now here" says Elorde, who is studying AB Interdisciplinary Studies.

I also asked him if he asked permission from the coaching staff.

"I did not ask permission because I think it is just proper to give respect to the La Sallian alma mater song because I was once a student of De La Salle."

Two other former La Sallians on the Ateneo roster, Isaac Lim and Gwyne Capacio, also sang the song with him.

(Blue Eagles Nico Salva and Kiefer Ravena have also both studied in La Salle schools. Now should they also sing the La Salle hymm? It could be a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't.)

Blue Eagles assistant Sandy Arespacochaga is certainly supportive of Elorde, Lim, and Capacio. "Ok lang, of course. That's their school before, so of course we respect that. All-out competition inside the court, but after the game the respect should still be there."

Nico's action makes me remember when BJ Manalo fled Loyola and suited up for the Archers. As a diehard Ateneo fan, I was stunned. And I let him have it during games.

When I would watch Ateneo games and Manalo would touch the ball, I would hurl invective at him like my life depended on it.

The older me looks back at the younger me with some embarrassment now. I wish to someday meet BJ (he is a pastor now) and ask him to forgive me (if he happened to hear me at all. I would watch from Upper B then, sometimes Upper A.)

Elorde's singing of the La Salle hymm is indicative of a new civility and maturity in how fans see the rivalry. The 2003 semifinal series game, when the teams brawled and a flotilla of security bouncers had to separate them, seems so far away.

Truth be told, these are two proud schools with great traditions. We may hate each other in a sense, but it's sports hate, not real hate. It should end once the whistle blows to end the game. If one wishes to transfer from one to the other, for whatever reason, there should be as little acrimony as possible.

I graduated from Ateneo de Manila High School in 1990 and from Ateneo de Manila University in 1994. But I did spend a year in La Salle Greenhills for kindergarten. That's why when I attended an Ateneo — La Salle game in 2004 with my then-girlfriend from La Salle, we sat in the Green side and I sang both songs.

This rivalry should be about respect. And of course, great Basketball. Come Saturday, when the two teams meet again, we hope to see both.

Thank you, Nico Elorde, for teaching us how to be a true La Sallian and a true Atenean at the same time.

You can follow Bob Guerrero on Twitter @bhobg333.