By Marcus Suner, Nikolai Ordoña, Paulo Diesta

Last January 4-5, the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) commenced its sportsfest for Grade 12, facilitated by the Athlete’s Council (AthC) at the Formation Learning Center (FLC). 

The opening program was hosted by Sanggunian President Ino Maxino and AthC Vice President Jethro Ortiz, alongside Assistant Principal for Administration Ms. Czel Lacson who delivered the opening remarks.

“This sportsfest is a chance for you to pause in your academics […] and an opportunity [for you] to embody the passion, conscience, and commitment.” Ms. Lacson described, adding that “this event is a break—a moment for you to recharge and make memories together.”

She continued by reminding the students to participate in the events with “integrity and teamwork.”

The opening ceremony then proceeded towards the Class Cheer, where each class was tasked with creating and delivering an invigorating chant for their respective classes.

To close the program, the student body pleaded the Oath of Sportsmanship headed by Ten Quimpo. Right before the classes headed for their respective venues, the Sanggunian Core led the warm up zumba exercises.

Quarters

Chess

The chess competitions were held on the second floor of the FLC, where marshals were stationed to observe and ensure the integrity of the games.

In the match against Xavier, Kiel Mirandilla from Kibe managed to clinch a win following a tactical checkmate as white. 

In a post-match interview, Mirandilla said that he made sure to practice through multiple online games, as well as “master the […] Queen’s Pawn opening and the French Defence.”

Prior to the match, Mirandilla felt that it would be a “difficult” game, but still felt “good” about his odds going into the second round. After the game, he described it as “tactical,” emphasizing the importance of each move and how he enjoyed the match with his “aggressive” playstyle.

Coming up against Grodecky, Solinas managed to grab a win through a decisive checkmate as black.

Right after the game, Liam Batnag from Solinas said in an interview that he didn’t have any expectations coming into the match, and just maintained his practice form during his usual online chess games.

Describing the game, Batnag admitted that he “[does not] know the strength of people in the Senior High,” so his strategy was “mostly just [playing] safe until [the opponent] made a mistake.” After the win, he briefly described himself as “feeling good.”

Playing against Gonzales, Acquaviva managed to score a win following a checkmate as black.

In an interview following the match, Icen Padayhag from Acquaviva “didn’t have any expectations” going into the game, highlighting that he primarily “wanted to have fun,” however still admitting that he had confidence in his abilities to score a win.

Analyzing the flow of the game, Padayhag underscored the equal footing during the early stages of the game, but noted how he got the points advantage over his opponent after a blunder.

“My heart was beating really fast because [the opponent] played so well. I felt like this was the hardest match I have ever played in my life,” Padayhag added.

In the match against Holland, Walpole managed to score a win as black following a resignation from the opponent.

Brian Magugat from Walpole stated during the post-match interview that he prepared thoroughly for the sportsfest through playing and analyzing his online matches on Lichess.org and previous tournaments.

Going into the matches, he mentioned that his mindset was that he “was no better than [his] opponent.” 

“I always think that my opponent is better than me and I will do my best every single time,” he added. 

At the end of the game, he mentioned that it was “an intense match,” citing how both he and his opponent were “tight on time.” However, he felt that he “got lucky” when his opponent missed an opportunity.

Football

In the match against Xavier, Denn managed to grab a win following the disqualification of their opponents in the second half of the match, ending the game with a score of 3-0.

Remarking on the team’s preparations, players Enrique Pastor and Xavi Tan said that they “trained a bit” before the Christmas break. 

Prior to the match, both players mentioned how they were “calm” when they entered the game, citing the presence of experienced varsity players on the fielded team. 

Commenting on the flow of the match itself, they mentioned that it “was fun at the start.” However, they mentioned how the addition of players from other sections to play for Xavier “caused a problem with the game,” and thus, the team was subsequently disqualified.

Badminton

The badminton games witnessed heated matches between the pair representatives of different sections, with Xavier winning against Evans and Denn but later defeated by Ogilvie. Meanwhile, Gonzales and Sullivan bested Carvalho and Beyzym, respectively.

An unexpected turn of events unfolded during the game between Beyzym and Holland. As both teams were about to begin the final and tie-breaker set, it was found out that the two sections had already faced each other prior in the eliminations with Beyzym passing the round. Because of the issue, the match came to an end with Beyzym declared as the technical winner.

In the post-match interview, Bianca Mendoza and Nash Rey Hipolito of Beyzym shared their experience and thoughts about the game.

“I actually feel kind of good about it, although it was really confusing kasi again, we had the match with the same section prior to the holidays and now apparently we have to do it again…we were a bit confused but overall, I remember how I felt last time. It was really good,” shared Bia.

“For me, I thought it’s going to be a very hard fight. I thought I had to fight for my life. Thank God that we won,” said Nash.

“I feel really energetic, very lively after the match. I gave my all and it showed. It was a bit of a confusion when we fought the same section again last time, but at least right now, we were able to clear up the confusion and we won,” he added.

The badminton quarters ended with Ogilvie, Sullivan, Gonzales, and Anchieta moving to the semi-finals.

Basketball 3×3

In the match against Acquaviva, Pro managed to clinch a close victory, leading them to score a one-point lead over their opponents.

Following the win, player Ariana Reyes from Pro said that their preparations were made before Christmas break during their respective PE sessions.

Prior to the match, she explained that “the ones that we were going to compete against were definitely stronger.”

“They were very tricky to play with, especially since they were fast,” she added, stating that “they were not like the others we played against.”

During the match itself, Reyes highlighted that the team employed simple, “easy to understand” strategies, “as not all of us have experience, so [this included] screening, pick and rolls, and handoffs.”

After the match, she went on to emphasize that it was a “team effort,” and expressed how she was proud of her teammates for their overall performance during the match. 

The Finals

Basketball

With the championship on the line, the basketball match between Evans and Bobola was nothing short of brilliance shown by both oppositions. During the first half, Kristian Porter placed Evans ahead with a score of 33-24 by raining multiple three pointers. 

At the onset of the game, players of Bobola initially found difficulties in trying to keep a straight footing with their opponents. This is mostly due to the fast paced gameplay and beyond-the-arc shooting capabilities of Evans. 

Once halftime was over, players such as Adolf Cruz and Karol Go led Bobola to more ball movement and driving towards the rim which shortened Evans lead to 42-38.

Fourth quarter came up, and the match only got more competitive as both sides scrambled for the ball. It was a see-saw scenario as Evans and Bobola exchanged shots, with both getting steals for the team. 

Towards the final minutes of the finals, both teams seemed tired from the constant back and forth. However, Bobola looked to have gotten a second wind, as they made use of their opponents’ turnover into a fast break bucket. 

This put Bobola up ahead, which was then strengthened by Bobola’s late game shooting spree in order to solidify their lead. Joaquin Zaballa, Evans’ second leading scorer, made strong efforts to close the deficit. In the end, the basketball team’s championship banner went to Bobola with a score of 52-47.

Basketball 3×3

After battling it out with several teams equally hungry to reach the finals, the teams of Evans and Pro stood out among the rest as they began to face each other for the pinnacle championship award.

The first quarter began as a physical match as players from both teams scrambled for the ball, each taking every opportunity to steal or block the ball from their opponent. As the first and second quarters passed, it was still a tight match with the championship within arms reach for either team. 

However, the second half highlighted the brilliance of Evans, as they seemingly acquired newfound energy to bank mid range shots. 

To keep this momentum going, they moved and passed the ball around more, creating spaces and opportunities for other players to either shoot from distance or drive towards the rim.

Players from Pro maintained their defense and made plays of their own to cut the lead, but fell short to the eventual victors hailing from Evans.  

Volleyball

Through exhibiting the right mix of strategy, perseverance, as well as mental toughness, 12-Grodecky and 12-Arnaiz climbed their way up the brackets which led them to achieve the final goal.

In the first set, players from 12-Arnaiz made a statement as they controlled the ball which won them the set. During this time, they placed their shots correctly, as well as making purposely difficult serves for their opponents to commit an error. 

Knowing that all of their efforts culminated in this moment, 12-Grodecky fought better during the second set. They made a couple of aces, which gave them a few significant points to shorten the 12-Arnaiz lead. 

An intense exchange of shots, receives, and blocks were exhibited by both sides in an attempt to gain points advantage over the other. However, 12-Arnaiz got the edge in this aspect, with them gaining match point at 20-16.

Remaining the same competitiveness, players from 12-Grodecky upped their defense and shot selection in the hopes of creating a comeback. With a perfectly timed shot, they were able to score a point, shortening the lead to 20-17. 

Eventually, 12-Arnaiz triumphed over 12-Grodecky’s defense and won the championship after such a match. 

Before the anticipated finals occurred, Sean Cruz from 12-Arnaiz expressed his way of handling a high level of pressure. 

“I manage the pressure by staying in the present moment to help me keep up my focus on the game and the only thing that was on my mind was to win, seeing and hearing my classmates and friends cheering for our team really motivated me to play,” he said. 

Throughout trials and tribulations, Cruz highlighted the synergy they had as a team and its importance during such crucial moments. 

“In the end, the confidence that we had developed in our team brought us to winning the championship and I am very proud that we were able to dominate through the finals,” he remarked.

Badminton

Matching up in the championship bracket of the badminton tournament were Sullivan and Gonzales. As both sides faced each other, they exhibited flashy and stellar performances, which led to a thriller finish.

It was the first few minutes of the first set and both sides already brought out their quick smashes and deceiving drop shots. During the opening, it was a see-saw battle of who can out strategize the other, with a tied score of 7-7.

As the match went on, the same trend continued when both teams implored near perfect coordination and shot selection. 

When one side does an unexpected move, the opposition almost always has the appropriate counter for it. With the score listed at 11-11, it was hard to predict which team had the upper hand to win it all.

However, Sullivan seemed to slowly figure out Gonzales as they were able to predict their opponents’ shots and the correct response to them. They increased the frequency of their smashes, which proved to be effective as Gonzales experienced difficulties in receiving extremely fast shots. 

Because of them taking advantage of the crack in Gonzales’ defense, they kept on the same intensity of shots in order to win by a large margin at 21-12. 

Given the top performance shown by both teams during the first set, the second set ended in a true championship fashion. With both teams refusing to back down, the exchanges became tighter as well as their score.

Similar to the first, the second set was a back and forth match, with both sides seemingly having every counter for the other. They brought out their best shots in the first minutes in order to gain an early points advantage.

With the score at 15-13, one of the most remarkable rallies of the whole tournament commenced as players from Gonzales and Sullivan exchanged quick drive shots. 

Afterwards, they both instantly switched to smash shots, with both teams successfully receiving it which garnered multiple reactions from the crowd.

In the end, Sullivan got the better of the exchange and outlasted Gonzales as they ended up at the top of the tournament with a score of 21-17 to finish off the finals. 

When tasked to represent the class of Sullivan in the finals and bring home the championship banner, Martina Cortez stressed on putting trust in the team’s preparations to secure the win.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous for the matches, especially against my teammates, but that’s just because of the deep respect I have for them as really good players,” she remarked.

“I just remembered to trust in the hard work Ary [Lopez] and I put into preparing,” she added.

To top it all off, she mentioned the importance of God which led her and the team to achieve such a feat.

“I just knew that I had to leave everything on the court that day because I owed it to Sullivan, to everyone who supported me, to Ary, and most importantly, to God,” Cortez concluded. 

Ultimate

After successfully dominating the quarter and semifinals, Anchieta and Carvalho faced head-to-head to claim the ultimate frisbee championship. 

The match was a close fight and intense all throughout, with both teams quickly catching up on each other. After almost an hour of fierce competition, the game ended with Anchieta reaching the top, besting Carvalho only by two points.

“Well to be honest, our only [strategy] was to keep up our defense and stay on our man, just play hard…” said Mikan Reyes of Anchieta.

“It was really a good game. Both teams really played hard, especially Javier Sabado from the other team, Carvalho. He’s also my teammate from frisbee last year and we promised each other that we’ll make it to the finals and it’s pretty cool that we both did. We even switched jerseys and all that,” he added, acknowledging their opponent’s achievements and skill.

List of Winners

During the closing ceremony, banners and certificates were awarded to those sections and individuals who distinguished themselves in their respective sports.

In Badminton, the championship banner was awarded to the class of Sullivan, while the classes of Gonzales and Ogilvie secured first and second runner up, respectively.

The most valuable players (MVPs) were then given recognition. Hailing from Sullivan, player Marianna Cortez was crowned as the MVP girls award. For the MVP boys award, the feat was achieved by Timothy Arias from Ogilvie. 

Moving on to Volleyball, the class of Arnaiz was crowned the champion, with Grodecky and Evans bagging first and second runner up, respectively.

The MVP in this field, Gian Bahia, was also given due recognition for their capabilities, alongside the Mythical 6, namely Ynah Ordoñez, Ten Quimpo, Megan Cajucom-Uy, Reggie Sanchez, Sean Cruz, and Lian Dy. These players demonstrated a high degree of knowledge and expertise during the matches.

Under basketball, players from Bobola were given the championship accolade as they topped the podium. Coming in at first runner up was Evans while the class of Denn was awarded the second runner up banner after winning a tough battle for third. 

Players during this portion of the awardings were also granted with individual accolades for performing at a high level during all the matches. These awards are the Mythical 5 which highlights the five best performing players who stood out among the rest, as well as the illustrious MVP award. 

For the Mythical 5 award, Troy De Guzman, Joaquin Zaballa, Leandro Dela Luna, Karol Go, and Kristian Porter all received their certificates.

Among all who played, Adolf Cruz was given the MVP award after exhibiting a high quality performance and played a major part towards Bobola’s victory.

Evans was named as the champion for the Basketball 3×3 category, followed by Pro and Acquaviva being first and second runner up, respectively.

Basketball 3×3 MVP Angel Dagala was given due recognition for their efforts, along with the Mythical 3, specifically Ariana Reyes, Steph Huang, and Lauren Lopez. These players exhibited a high level of excellence, effort, and skill in their respective matches.

For the sport of Frisbee, Anchieta bagged the championship, while Carvalho and Acquaviva secured first and second runner up after a solid showing in their plays.

Given their showing during their respective matches, MVP Mikan Reyes and the Mythical 6, namely Wyli Agbayani, Javier Sabado, Jonas Enriquez, Gab Rosanes, Enzo Manahan, Rocco Liamzon, were given their due recognitions for their outstanding performance.

During the football awarding portion of the closing ceremony, the representatives of Acquaviva received their award as the champions after a triumphant win in the finals. Following them was Denn and Anchieta as they achieved the first and second runner up, respectively.

From their performance during the tournament, seven players were chosen as the Mythical 7. These players showed what it takes to shine in one’s craft, and guided their team towards victory. 

The Mythical 7 were Enrique Pastor, Javi Tan, Sachi Ingles, Rocco Liamzon, Karol Go, EJ Decampong, and Sid Remolacio.

To cap it all off, the MVP award was given to Raiken Comla as he exhibited performance of the highest caliber during the tournament. 

Finally, awards were given to the top three chess teams representing their sections after a grueling battle of the minds. 

A stellar performance was shown by the representative of Solinas as they emerged as the victor during the finals and was awarded the championship banner. Afterwards, Acquaviva and Walpole trailed behind them as they bagged first and second runner up, respectively.

Special Awards

Above all, the essence of this year’s Sportsfest is not fully manifested by glory and accolades alone. Rather, this annual event also places a high regard for the values, attitudes, and behaviors athletes showcase.

Five awards were given to various classes to distinguish their sections in the respective aspects of sportsmanship, team spirit, multiple sports, and class involvement.

The sections of Arnaiz, Daniel, Gonzales, and Pantalia exhibited a high degree of sportsmanship throughout the matches, and were thus the recipients of the Sportsmanship Award.

Meanwhile, the classes of Bobola, Evans, and Anchieta showed much enthusiasm and morale during the Sportsfest and received the special award for Team Spirit.

The sections of Acquaviva, Carvalho, Denn, Pro, and Kibe were then awarded as the Multi Sport Standouts.

Moreover, the classes of Grodecky, Daniel, Anchieta, and Ogilvie were also given their due recognition, receiving the Class Involvement special award for their activity and passion to support their athletes.

Aside from the individual performance exhibited by the students, a specific strand’s presence was also given recognition. As such, the Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) and the Humanities and Social Sciences (HumSS) strands were labeled as the Most Active Strands.