Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University (Filipino: "Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila;" Spanish:" Universidad Ateneo de Manila") is a private Roman Catholic research university in Quezon City, Philippines. Founded in 1859 by the Society of Jesus, Ateneo is the third-oldest university in the Philippines. Ateneo offers elementary and secondary education exclusively to male students (and has recently opened the Senior High School to girls). The undergraduate and graduate programmes are coeducational and organised into four schools, collectively known as the Loyola Schools, which are located at its main campus at Loyola Heights. Four professional schools occupy campuses in different parts of Metro Manila.
University Athletic Association of the Philippines
Despite both schools being featured in several UAAP Finals matchups in other events like men's football, the now-dubbed "Battle of Katipunan" garnered nationwide attention for the first time in UAAP history when third-seeded University of the Philippines, after ending a 21-year long drought of Final Four appearance, overcame second-seeded Adamson University's twice-to-beat advantage to advance to the finals for the first time since their 1986 championship to face defending champions Ateneo de Manila University (who advanced first to the championship round after beating Far Eastern University in the semifinals) in men's basketball in 2018. Ateneo would eventually sweep UP in the best-of-3 finals series en route to their 10th (and 2nd consecutive) UAAP championship.
The rivalry between Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, widely regarded as Philippines' foremost collegiate rivalry for decades, has resulted in sold-out games (especially in women's volleyball and men's basketball) that attract several public figures in attendance, including politicians, movie stars, and foreign diplomats. It is also the foremost school rivalry in the UAAP since La Salle joined the UAAP from the NCAA in 1986. However, the rivalry dates back to the time when both schools were playing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 1924 until the late 1977.