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While channel surfing the other night, I coincidentally came across a replay of the RP Team battling against the Japanese National Team in the 29^th William Jones Cup on an ESPN feed. The game had long taken place in the past month, but it would be the first time I would actually watch the game with my own eyes. The game went from one basket made to another, as the long-missed PBA stars displayed the caliber of basketball they were capable of. In one twist of coaching moves, Coach Chot Reyes filled in seldom-used RenRen Ritualo with a little over a minute left in the first quarter; and my mind was once more blown back to the past. The former Green Archer star made the coliseum rain with 3-pointers, hitting 7 of 9 3-point shots within the span of a quarter. For people who keep up with the PBA, RenRen Ritualo making more or less 10 3-pointers in a game doesn’t come as a shock; instead, it comes as a spectacle to be awed at. It’s not a fluke, it’s RenRen.

RenRen Ritualo spent his college years and developed his amazing skills at yours truly, De La Salle University. Being introduced to the UAAP only as the Archers were at the brink of their Grand Slam titles, all that remains with me are fond memories of RenRen Ritualo lighting up the dumbfounded opposing team not knowing what to do with him. I was way fresh in high school back then, and RenRen Ritualo was playing in his fifth and final year as a Green Archer. I stood in awe as RenRen, along with Mike Cortez and MacMac Cardona, led the Archers to victory after victory, with Ritualo highlighting the high-octane offense of the Green Archers. Stories and videos tell of RenRen Ritualo burning the FEU Tamaraws and the UST Growling Tigers for their first three championships, with the 1998 championship against FEU being the more painful one as Ritualo hit the game-winning 3-point shot for the title. Let’s not forget about the historic performance of RenRen Ritualo in one of the greatest UAAP games of all time, against UST in Game 3 of the 1999 UAAP championship. Fortunately, RenRen still had one more year left at the time and he wasn’t about to hold back for anyone. Watching most of the games live made me experience first-hand the arsenal of weaponry that RenRen Ritualo carries. The pure-shooter won my basketball-heart, but the bigger stage set for the one big show which could highlight the career of RenRen Ritualo. During the 3^rd and final game of the best-of-3 championship series against their arch-nemesis, Ateneo Blue Eagles, RenRen Ritualo rallied a failing Green Archer team past the Blue Eagles by scoring 16 points in the second half to seal his dynasty in the history books. The Archers won their Grand Slam, 4 straight titles, and RenRen Ritualo had one of the most graceful exits that any UAAP player ever had. He contributed five years of his mind and body for De La Salle; he gave himself for the sake of school pride and honor. In return, he has four UAAP Titles under his resume, with the last title during his last year being just as sweet as the first one. His other achievements come in the sizes of: being named one of the 20 greatest players in PBL history, the Rookie of the Year Award in the PBA, and many more.

For some reason, I show a deep admiration and respect for THE RenRen Ritualo and the kind of player and person he naturally is above all the other great players that the Green Archers have produced. It doesn’t come solely from the fact that he can light up the score board with 30 quick points within a quarter if his game is hot. RenRen emits an aura of honor and pride, one that would make any cold-hearted-log sitting at home appreciate the game of basketball all the more. It doesn’t become just about the game any longer, passion and heart trail RenRen’s every step, and those steps seemingly entice all basketball fans alike to start walking the trail. With “the Great Reggie Miller” being one of my all-time favorite basketball players, it might be no wonder why I choose to venerate RenRen Ritualo. Despite the numerous pure-shooters in the game of basketball, the fact of the matter still remains that Ritualo and Miller are somewhat distinct from the rest. No matter how pathetic Reggie Miller is as a sports caster, and no matter how awkward RenRen Ritualo looks without hair; the two carry the true essence of basketball on their shoulders: something which can not be seen, touched, or described; only felt.

Animo La Salle!

uaap, dlsu, lasalle, uaap basketball, ritualo, green archer