The "Battle of the East" is a college basketball rivalry between the

University of the East The University of the East ( fil, Pamantasan ng Silangan), also known as UE, is a leading private university located in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1946, business tycoon Lucio Tan acquired the university in 1990. UE was once labeled as the ...

Red Warriors and

Far Eastern University Far Eastern University (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Pamantasan ng Malayong Silanganan''), also referred to by its acronym FEU, is a Private university, private non-sectarian Liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Manila, Philippines ...

Tamaraws. Others would refer to it as the Battle of Morayta, because of the street that runs between these universities. They have a combined 38 UAAP Basketball titles.

History

FEU left the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

in 1936 and later on to form the

University Athletic Association of the Philippines The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), established in 1938, is an athletic association of eight Metro Manila universities in the Philippines. The eight-member schools are Adamson University (AdU), Ateneo de Manila Univers ...

along with

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel ...

National University A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. Some national universities are associated with national cultural or po ...

and the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...

in 1938. UE was part of the first UAAP expansion with

Adamson University Adamson University ( fil, links=no, Pamantasang Adamson) also referred to by its acronym AdU is a private, Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution run by the Congregation of the Mission in Manila, Philippines. The univers ...

in 1952. It did not take long for the Warriors to dominate since joining the league as it holds the longest finals appearance with 16 from 1957 to 1972, including a seven straight title run from 1965 to 1971(1967 title to be shared with UST), with FEU winning the title in 1961 and 1972.

Notable Games

1960 UAAP Finals

UE stormed back from 81-75 with three minutes left to play at the half to complete an upset, 87-86 taking the El Oro trophy home in front of a crowded Rizal Memorial Coliseum. A run started with Norman de Vera's two free throws after being fouled by Rohimust Santos to cut the lead, while sophomore Rizaldo Pabillore came up with two interceptions all within the last three minutes of the second half to earn their third title.

1961 UAAP Second Round Eliminations

UE subdued FEU, 78-74 in the second round of the UAAP basketball series at the

Rizal Memorial Coliseum The Rizal Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines. Its capacity is 6,100. History The Rizal Memorial Coliseum within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex was built on the former site of Manil ...

. But the jam-packed crowd of 9,000 (over maximum capacity of the coliseum) got an unexpected show after the final buzzer when cagers from both teams engaged in an impromptu brawl on the floor. The fight was triggered off by a last-second scuffle for the ball between Tamaraw

Romy Diaz Jose Romeo Bustillos Diaz (November 28, 1940 – May 10, 2005) was a Filipino actor. He performed in films such as ''Ang Maestro'' (1981), ''The Impossible Kid'' (1982), ''Gising Na... Ang Higanteng Natutulog'' (1995) and ''Si Samson at Si Deli ...

and Warrior Carlos Quitzon. Quitzon had the ball and was being harassed by Diaz when the buzzer sounded and hell broke loose. Searing blast by lanky

Jimmy Mariano Jaime L. Mariano OLY (are post-nominal letters granted by the World Olympians Association (WOA) to registered athletes who have participated in the Olympic Games (born April 19, 1941), also known as Jimmy "Mr. Cool" Mariano, is a Filipino former b ...

and clutch baskets by Jose Sison and Wenceslao Olaguera at the homestretch saved the Warriors after they were behind by six points. Mariano scored twice on a twisting shot to regain the lead for UE, 63-60, with five minutes left in the game. The two schools met again in the finals with FEU winning the championship.

1981 UAAP Finals

With the game on the line, University of the East rookie

Allan Caidic Allan Vito Flores Caidic (born June 15, 1963) is a Filipino former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is considered by many to be the greatest shooter the country has ever produced, thus, earning the mon ...

, with the chance of beating the rival FEU to win the championship, missed both free throws and let the Tamaraws led by

Glenn Capacio Glenn Capacio (born May 15, 1964, in Palo, Leyte) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the former head coach of PBA team GlobalPort Batang Pier and was also the former head coach ...

steal the 1981 title. Caidic, with the rest of UE squad, won the championship the following year after beating the University of the Philippines.

2009 UAAP Semifinals

Holding a twice to beat advantage, the second-seeded Tamaraws fell short during the Game 1 of the series, 74-84, without their sophomore guard

Mark Barroca Andy Mark C. Barroca (born April 25, 1986) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He currently wears the number 14 to imply the birthdate of his wife. Professional ...

, who was accused of game-fixing prior to his performance on the team's last stretch of the elimination. Going on to the second game of the series, a much favored FEU, despite a 49-39 lead at the half, once again took the beating as Paul Lee and the Warriors pulled an upset and entered the finals with the score of 72-78 to face Ateneo.

Game Results

FEU victories are colored ██ green. UE victories are colored ██ red.'' *''asterisk denotes a post season game'' *''double asterisk denotes a second seed play-off''

References

{{UAAP University Athletic Association of the Philippines rivalries Far Eastern University University of the East