By Paulo Diesta, Nikolai Ordoña, Marcus Suner

Over the past months, athletes of the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) bagged awards for the school in both local and international competitions. Even with the closing of 2023, their remarkable achievements remain immortalized as hallmarks of competence and excellence.

Jesuit Athletic Meet (JAM)

Held last September 19-23, JAM 2023 witnessed the ASHS bag five championships and 81 awards. Across eleven sports, there were 42 golds, 20 silvers, and 21 bronzes. 

For one, the boys’ basketball team came home from the competition with gold medals on hand and a championship title in their name. Meanwhile, the girls’ 3×3 basketball team also exuded a strong performance—achieving bronze medals for the school.

More gold awards were obtained by ASHS representatives in boys’ football, boys’ lawn tennis, and girls’ table tennis, with an individual championship awarded to Anica Begonica.

In boys’ table tennis doubles, Ethan Peña-Reyes earned bronze. Maxine Lo and Frances Lo also garnered bronze in  girls’ table tennis doubles.

For Taekwondo Poomsae, Elizabeth Borres bagged the gold medal, while Alexandra Grozman and Noah Formoso finished the event as silver medalists. 

Under Taekwondo Kyorugi—Gabe Samson, Stefanie Leones, Niko Macasaet, Jared Gagni, and Jacob Rodriquez collectively won five gold awards for the ASHS. Kyorugi delegates Alonzo Pasion and Carlos David achieved silver and bronze medals, respectively. 

Headed by coaches Candice Federiso and Gabrielle Meneses, the ASHS swimming team in JAM acquired a final tally of 22 golds, 12 silvers, and 10 bronzes across individual and relay events.  

ASHS athletics team player Sammie Souza acquired three gold medals. Adding to the medal count, Shannen Guevarra, Jose Costelo, Gael Marquez, and Zach Dy each brought home a bronze medal for the school. In a separate 4×100 relay, ASHS delegates bagged a gold medal for athletics’ team events. 

In the chess tournaments, Luis Gutierrez competed his way to a bronze finish on board 4. Liam Batnag and Brix Magugat also played, all of whom were led by coach Ildefonso Datu.

Badminton players Lester Peñaloza and Jamie Castañeda, as well as Erica Alicante and Martina Cortez, acquired silvers for boys’ doubles and girls’ doubles, respectively. Under the singles bracket, Sophia Reyes finished in the top 2, earning a silver medal. 

Also present at the JAM event were the ASHS boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams. As delegates, they represented the school by exemplifying the competitive spirit of fighting and winning through adversity. 

Palarong Pambansa

In the event held from August 1 to 5 in Marikina City, ASHS students bagged multiple medals across a variety of categories within sports such as archery and swimming.

Archer Ckheil Enecio took home two bronzes from the competition, with the medals being shared with other teammates.

Swimmers Ivo Enot and Renzo Tirol acquired a total of nine medals, with the former taking three golds, one silver, and one bronze, while the latter took one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

ASEAN Youth Archery Championship

Archer Ckheil Enecio, representing the Philippines, won four medals in the international event, successfully gaining two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze medal.

Hosted at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Stadium in Talisay, Cebu from August 16 to 19, the event garnered 300 archers from across Asia.

National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships

ASHS student-athlete Jin Niko Macasaet bagged a silver medal for kyorugi in the inter-school competition, held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. 

More than 4000 jins nationwide attended the event held from September 30 to October 1. 

Smart/MVP Sports Foundation 2023 Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships

ASHS athlete Alonzo Pasion took home a bronze medal in the junior men division, light-heavy category of the event.

Held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City, the event garnered around 900 black belters from across the country.

45th Southeast Asia Age Group Aquatics Championships

ASHS swimmer Ivo Enot represented the Philippines in the international competition, winning a bronze medal for the 100m backstroke. 

The event was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from August 24 to 26. He is one of the 19 athletes sent to the meet.

7th Asian Junior Taekwondo Poomsae Championships

ASHS jin Elizabeth Borres, representing the Philippines, took home a bronze medal in the international event that garnered around 200 international taekwondo practitioners.

Held in the Nauhad Naufal Indoor Sports Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon on September 5, she is part of the 12-member delegation selected by the Philippine Taekwondo Association.

UAAP High School Season 86

The High School Rounds of the UAAP Season 86 opened with the victory of Ateneo Blue Eagles Girls’ Volleyball Team (AHSGVT) against University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS). The game, held last November 4 at Adamson University, marked the debut of Ateneo in the girls’ volleyball division.

Likewise, the Ateneo Blue Eagles Boys and Girls Table Tennis Teams won their first rounds against the UP Fighting Maroons last November 9 in Amoranto Sports Complex, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the UAAP Track and Field event witnessed the Ateneo Blue Eagles team bagging several awards last November 25 at the PhilSports Arena. 

As the team captain, Jose Costelo competed in hammer throw and discus wherein he achieved bronze and silver medals, respectively. 

On the other hand, the Ateneo High School Table Tennis Team, Ateneo Track and Field Varsity, Ateneo Junior Taekwondo Team, Ateneo Judo Association, as well as the FAST Ateneo Swimming Team had competed in their respective UAAP seasons.

The Ateneo Boys and Girls Swimming Team bagged first runner up, while the Ateneo Junior Taekwondo Team won second runner up. The Ateneo Judo Association also brought home a silver trophy.

Ateneo Blue Eagles Team Kyorugi

A remarkable feat was achieved during the recently concluded UAAP Season 86 Taekwondo held last November 27-29 at the Marikina Sports Center, as members of the Ateneo High School Team won their first bronze medal in 20 years. 

Belonging in this memorable achievement are Niko Macasaet (11-Fontoura), Joaquin Abella (11-Fontoura), Matteo Carlos (11-Escribano), Nathan Chupungco (12-Arnaiz), Carlos David (12-Arnaiz), Alonzo Pasion (11-Wright), and Gabe Samson (12-Carvalho). The Ateneo Kyorugi Team was coached by Elmer Rafael, Lito Laga, and Joey Paja. They were headed by Master Jobet Morales. 

During separate individual events, Ateneo maintained their stellar performance as team captain Niko Macasaet finished the event with 4 wins and only 1 loss. This display earned him a silver finish, adding to the medal count of the Blue Eagles. 

UAAP 86 Swimming Boys

In the recently concluded UAAP 86 High School Swimming Championships back in November 23-26, athletes from Ateneo Boys’ Team battled their way towards a silver place – second consecutive silver award in two seasons. With a final count of 327 points, the team showed what it takes to win by consistently garnering medals and performing at a high level throughout the four day event. 

As the event was launched on November 23, Ateneo Boys instantly made a statement with Ivo Enot (12-Evans) bagged a gold in 100m freestyle and a silver in individual medley. Enforcing this strong start was Franz Ong (12-Anchieta) who achieved a silver finish in 800m freestyle. 

The team showed overall consistency, as team events witnessed Toby Sy (11-Fontoura) and Gabe Voiovicente (11-San Vitores) earned a silver medal in 4×50 medley relay. Adding to this victory, Ramon Viray (12-Grodecky), Pierre Kwan (11-Fontoura), and Ilo Tondo (12-Evans) finished in silver during the 4x200m freestyle relay. 

Day 2 of the tournament saw the Ateneo Boys team looking to extend their win column when Renzo Tirol (12-Evans) won gold in 50m breaststroke, and Ivo Enot with a gold medal in 200m backstroke. In team events, Ilo Tondo competed in 4x100m freestyle relay wherein his team obtained a silver medal.

With an impressive start in the tournament, Ivo Enot earned a bronze award in 200m freestyle and gold in 100m backstroke for the third day. Same performance can be said with Renzo Tirol, as he reached gold in 100m breaststroke. In team event categories, Franz Ong and Ilo Tondo strived towards a silver medal in the 4×50 freestyle relay.

The last day of the UAAP Swimming Championship shined in blue and white, as Ivo Enot once again won a gold medal in 50m backstroke. This adds to his already impressive resume of medals and performances during the competition. 

Exhibiting a high level performance was Renzo Tirol, as he won a bronze in 200m breaststroke. Franz Ong also ended on a high note after winning a gold medal in the 1500m freestyle event. 

Marcus Molino, Ramon Viray, Gabe Viovicente, and Ilo Tondo also finished the event with a bronze medal in 4x100m medley relay. 

45th SEA Age Group Swimming 

Competing in the international 45th SEA Age Group held last August 24 to 26 was ASHS student-athlete Ivo Nikolai Enot, as he represented the country alongside the rest of the Philippine team.

After recording a final time of 59.21 seconds, Enot finished third and brought home a bronze medal in the 16-18 Boys 100m category. With the Philippine national team’s 77 percent success rate, he added to a dominant finish of 17 medals.

The Athletes’ Fighting Spirit

These recognitions highlight the stellar performance of these ASHS student-athletes in their respective competitions and disciplines. 

However, even the opportunity to be invited to and participate in such events and competitions is already a gift for the community in and of itself. 

All of these athletes, awarded or not, serve as a testament to the Ignatian maxim of Magis—as they strive not only for success, but more importantly, excellence.

As the year comes to a close, these awards and participations serve as the fruits of these student-athletes’ labor, as well as points for reflection on the year that has been. 

In the nature of the holiday season, we celebrate these students’ distinguished participation in their respective sports, and avidly look forward to the new year that is to begin.