Ateneo, UP student councils urge both schools to wear black for UAAP finals opener

The student councils from University of the Philippines and Ateneo De Manila University are urging supporters of their respective varsity teams to both wear black in protest for Game One of the UAAP Season 81 men's basketball finals.

The Fighting Maroons and the Blue Eagles tip off at 3:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena in a highly-anticipated matchup, with UP back in the finals for the first time in 32 years against a defending champion Ateneo squad.

But the student governments see the occasion as an opportunity to set school rivalry aside and send a message.

"Win or lose, it’s the nation we choose!" wrote the Sanggunian ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila on its Facebook page. "We urge everyone to wear black for tomorrow’s game as a protest against violence, impunity, and misogyny."

The UP Diliman University Student Council echoed the sentiment.

"In the #BattleOfKatipunan tomorrow, let us always remember that our struggles go beyond the game that we’re cheering for, and these struggles are always within our community," it said.

"Use your voice and fight to end tyranny, impunity, and misogyny in our country!" —JST, GMA News