Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym
Encyclopedia
The Blue Eagle Gym is a gymnasium located in the main campus of the Ateneo de Manila University
in Quezon City
, Philippines
. Unlike most gymnasiums, the basketball court is oriented perpendicular to the orientation of the building. For a time, it was officially known as the Loyola Center.
The stadium was built in 1949, three years before the Ateneo de Manila moved from its Manila campus to its current campus in Loyola Heights in 1952.
According to historical records, the gym was constructed under the direction of Ateneo Rector William F. Masterson, S.J., to be an alternative venue to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum
for the National Collegiate Athletic Association
games.
It is frequently a venue for sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(pre-1978). Ateneo's games, however, were played at the Rizal Coliseum to prevent any home-court advantage during the NCAA years.
It was also a venue for Philippine Basketball Association
games in the league's early years. The Manila Metrostars
of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association
also used the Blue Eagle Gym as a temporary home court before moving to the Mail and More Arena in San Andres, Manila.
The stadium played host to the sepak takraw tournament of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games
. It was scheduled to be the venue for women's basketball in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
, but since the Basketball Association of the Philippines
was suspended by FIBA, the gymnasium was not able to host the event.
The gymnasium is the home of the Ateneo Blue Eagles
, Ateneo de Manila University
's varsity team.
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Unlike most gymnasiums, the basketball court is oriented perpendicular to the orientation of the building. For a time, it was officially known as the Loyola Center.
The stadium was built in 1949, three years before the Ateneo de Manila moved from its Manila campus to its current campus in Loyola Heights in 1952.
According to historical records, the gym was constructed under the direction of Ateneo Rector William F. Masterson, S.J., to be an alternative venue to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum
Rizal Memorial Coliseum
The Rizal Memorial Coliseum is one of two indoor sporting arenas located inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines, the other being the Ninoy Aquino Stadium...
for the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an athletics association of nine colleges and universities in the Philippines. Established in 1924, the NCAA is the oldest athletic association in the Philippines...
games.
It is frequently a venue for sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an athletics association of nine colleges and universities in the Philippines. Established in 1924, the NCAA is the oldest athletic association in the Philippines...
(pre-1978). Ateneo's games, however, were played at the Rizal Coliseum to prevent any home-court advantage during the NCAA years.
It was also a venue for Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
games in the league's early years. The Manila Metrostars
Manila Metrostars
The Manila Metrostars was a former professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998-2001. The team was the 1999 MBA National Champions and holds the MBA record of winning 22 consecutive games during the said season. The team was merged with the Batangas...
of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association
Metropolitan Basketball Association
The Metropolitan Basketball Association or Metroball was a professional basketball league in the Philippines founded in 1998.The MBA overtook the Philippine Basketball Association's plans on regionalization when the league adopted a home-and-away format where teams, instead of representing...
also used the Blue Eagle Gym as a temporary home court before moving to the Mail and More Arena in San Andres, Manila.
The stadium played host to the sepak takraw tournament of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games
1991 Southeast Asian Games
The 16th Southeast Asian Games were held in Manila, the Philippines from 24 November - 3 December 1991. This was the second time that the country hosted the biennial regional sporting event. It was officially opened by President Corazon Aquino at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila through a...
. It was scheduled to be the venue for women's basketball in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
2005 Southeast Asian Games
The 23rd Southeast Asian Games were held in the Philippines from November 27 to December 5 in 2005. The games were participated by the eleven nations of Southeast Asia. This was the first time that the opening and closing ceremonies were held in a large open field, despite the fact that Manila...
, but since the Basketball Association of the Philippines
Basketball Association of the Philippines
The Basketball Association of the Philippines was the International Basketball Federation recognized national governing body for basketball in the Philippines...
was suspended by FIBA, the gymnasium was not able to host the event.
The gymnasium is the home of the Ateneo Blue Eagles
Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Ateneo Blue Eagles is the name of the collegiate men's varsity basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University that plays in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the premiere sports league in the country. The collegiate women's varsity basketball team is called the Lady...
, Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
's varsity team.