MANILA, Philippines ? For many college students, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is a way of life?particularly for the basketball fans of Ateneo, La Salle, University of Sto. Tomas (UST), University of the East (UE) and Far Eastern University (FEU), whose men?s teams are usually found on the final four. But for every rabid basketball fan, there?s also a hapless student who doesn?t know anything about the sport.

While watching the UP-NU game last weekend, I found myself seated beside a UP student wearing a school shirt who grimaced every time the Maroons missed a basket or fumbled with the ball.

Looking for something to focus on other than the game, he turned to me and asked, ?Are you from Ateneo?? (I was with my siblings, who were waiting for the ADMU-FEU game and were clad in bright blue Ateneo jackets).

?No,? I replied. ?I went to UP for college, but graduated a couple of years ago.?

?Is it always like this?? he gestured at the sluggish game on the court, his lips twisted into a grimace.

?Er, for the past few years, I think so,? I said. ?Men?s basketball hasn?t exactly been a high point for UP recently?try watching the women?s team for better action. Why are you watching it, if it?s so painful for you??

?I?m taking up cheerleading for P.E.,? he said, indicating his shirt and class card. ?All we have to do is watch the games, but we miss even one, we automatically fail the course.?

?Easier than playing table tennis,? I commented. ?At least all you have to do is show up at the games and cheer. But then again, you could?ve just taken up duckpin bowling.?

?I?m a freshman,? he said. ?I didn?t know it would be this depressing.?

So what?s a student to do? Some schools have a strong UAAP basketball culture and don?t need to prod their students to watch the games. But for schools such as UP, where many students couldn?t care less about the progress of the teams, required watching can present a problem. But there?s hope for non-basketball fans?after all, the UAAP isn?t just a sports league, but an entire culture in itself. If you find yourself bored during a game you?re required to watch (or if the game?s getting too sluggish or one-sided for you), here?s what you can do instead:

1. Check out what the students are wearing

We don?t mean their jeans, or what bags they?re carrying. The UAAP, for all its faults, brings out the creative and entrepreneurial side of students. The past few years, in particular, brought out a batch of interesting statement shirts from brands such as Gang Green and Apparel Ateneo. Our favorites from last year had ?I am Nonoy,? ?Today is Tiu?s Day? and ?Push the limit, Animo spirit? on them. Take photos of the particularly original ones.

2. Go celebrity spotting

This is quite easy to do, especially if you?re watching a big game and if there are lots of famous alumni from the school. It helps if you?re near the patron area, where celebs either have the cash to spend on pricey tickets (prices shoot up due to scalpers) or have the connections to get the hard-to-get seats. To make things more interesting, spot famous personalities who aren?t from showbiz, such as Henry Sy or Manny Pangilinan, or maybe your school president. Or you can also just look for cute people in the crowd, if you can?t find any celebrities. (Another tip: look out for overeager alumni who get into fights with people from the rival schools).

3. Watch the halftime show

In UP?s case, this is probably what a lot of students look forward to instead of the actual game. If you?re more into fancy dance moves and crowd-revving cheers instead of players chasing after a basketball, stick around for the halftime show. Compare the moves and see how different the squads are; for instance, Ateneo?s Blue Babble is really designed to work the crowds, while the UP and UST dancers can steal the show with flashy moves and gymnastic stunts.

4. Read what the banners say

It?s easy to spot the most popular players in a team?or find out if the team is popular in the first place. Look for fans who bring banners and try to read what?s written on them. A lot of them can be generic, but some of them are unexpectedly hilarious. Remember last year?s ?Iglesia Ni Chris Tiu?? They?re more interesting than the games themselves sometimes.

5. Make a friend

If the person beside you has similarly glazed eyes and checks his/her cellphone every five minutes, chances are, he/she was also dragged to the game. Strike up a conversation?who knows, you might end up talking about similar interests (like video games and food) and make a lifelong friend.

E-mail the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com