From Jesuit Athletic Meet

By Soleina Vasquez

The arena saw Ateneo de Manila University’s (ADMU) final blow in the Jesuit Athletic Meet (JAM) 2025 on Saturday, September 27, at Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan (XU-ADC), after taking on sister Jesuit schools in football, basketball, swimming, badminton, and chess.

The closing program began with a Eucharistic celebration, followed by performances that welcomed student-athletes one last time. Afterward, messages of appreciation were delivered.

“JAM 2025 created a space where our Xavier University Basic Education Community could grow, serve, and lead together,” said JAM 2025 Basic Education Athletics Director Ms. Joseline Bangquiao.

The Enrico David Navarro Sports Leadership Award was then presented before Xavier Ateneo Vice President for Basic Education Dr. Pamela Q. Pajente delivered the closing remarks.

“I hope that they will really be taking away with them the friendship [and] those memories — beautiful memories — here in Cagayan de Oro,” Pajente said.

ADMU made waves as Aina Mikaela Lim emerged from the waters to capture gold in the 50-meter breaststroke while Simone Arianne Kyle Cruz touched first in the 100 M butterfly ahead of Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) and Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-ADC).

​​The Blue Eagles also battled hard in the relays, clinching silver in the 4×50 M freestyle before powering to gold in the 4×50 M medley relay.

Lim and teammate Kleone Mole added more to Ateneo’s medal haul in the 100 M breaststroke, finishing first and second, respectively, while the pair later secured second and fourth, respectively, in the 200 M individual medley.

The boys’ team answered with even greater hits, as Rafael III Lentejas took gold in the 50 M backstroke, supported by Gabriel Ethan Gaw’s bronze and Marcus Gabriel Molino’s fourth-place finish.

Miguel Luis Martinez then delivered double gold in the 100 M freestyle and 50 M breaststroke, where Gaw added silver.

Their energy carried over to the 50 M freestyle, where Martinez, Gaw, and Lentejas swept the podium in first, second, and third, respectively.

The pair of Gaw and Lentejas returned for the 200 M individual medley, finishing gold and silver, respectively, before closing ADMU’s campaign with another golden relay victory in the 4×50 M medley.

Moreover, in football, ADMU’s boys fought hard to reach the finals and secured silver, finishing just behind SHS-ADC, while standing ahead of Xavier School San Juan (XSSJ) and XU-ADC, who placed third and fourth, respectively.

Furthermore, on the basketball court, ADMU stamped its dominance, claiming the championship after defeating Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), with ADNU settling for third.

“It feels great. This entire time, we were just locked in on the championship,” shared ADMU’s Noah Banal, one of the players of the Blue Eagles’ title run.

“The most important thing was the relationship we [formed] on the way… It felt good, but [there is] a lot of pressure. We’re representing everyone back home [and] we’re representing the other athletes over here,” he added

In badminton, ADMU also made its mark in both singles and doubles, with Mia Santina Benasa reaching the top four in the Girls’ Singles division, while the duo of Nate Kristian Labre and Jose Enrique Ongpin clinched bronze in Boys’ Doubles to keep Ateneo on the podium.

Meanwhile, on the boys’ chessboards, ADMU rose to the challenge and secured second place overall behind XSSJ, with standout performances from Joachim Thaddeus Manuel, Aidan Lucas Mejia, and Jose Ronell Co carrying the Blue Eagles to silver.

ADMU closed JAM 2025 with podium finishes across multiple sports; they now turn their focus to JAM 2027, where they will host and carry the banner of the Blue and White on home ground in Katipunan.