ASTEEGs perform
in
clutch, secures Intramurals’ four-peat title
IAN PAOLO VILLACENCIO
After a seesaw battle among the team standings, the College of Engineering (COE) ASTEEGs delivered a clutch performance in both major and special events, and were named as the overall champions in this year’s Intramurals ‘24 for the fourth consecutive time.
ASTEEGs witnessed their name being announced, as they gathered together with fellow MSUans in the Awarding Ceremonies of the said festivity last October 15.
COE won the championship title against other teams in 2019,2022, 2023, and 2024 and exerted their dominance in those aforementioned year editions. This year, they edged out the College of Education (COED) Mentors which made them settle for the first runner-up spot.
Ian Ernest Lopez, the Engineering Students Organization (ESO) president, was happy with the achievement, stating that he fought hard for his fellow ASTEEGs to victory.
“Overwhelming siya since we started from the bottom gid and fortunately, we found our way to the
top....Nalaban nako ang gusto sa mga constituents and nalaban nako ang gusto nila mahitabo,” Lopez said.
He was thankful for his Engineering constituents who joined in different events for exerting their effort and successfully defended their title.
“For the first three days, grabe gid siya ka-down, especially sa akong students tungod kay wala na sila ga-expect at first. Our senior, nagadto jud siya para iboost among confidence...and sa fourth and fifth day, nabalik namo ilahang morale, which resulted to us winning many activities,” the ESO president when asked about their feeling from being at the bottom to the top in the competition.
On the other hand, College of Education Students Organization (CESO) president Hazel Jane Anating, is happy that she witnessed how her constituents fought for their team, the Mentors.
“Konti na lang talaga and I would describe it as almost....Maybe championship is there, but what matters
sa akin is how those groups, those individuals, those made them champion ilang sarili during the events,” Anating stressed.
Meanwhile, the ASTEEGs accumulated 851 points, the Mentors gathered 807 points, the College of Agriculture (COA) Reapers having 727 points, College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) Vanguards with 706 points, and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM) Wizards, with 596 points, completing the top 5 teams.
In addition, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) Tycoons gathered 546.5 points, College of Fisheries (COF) Anglers grabbed 482.5 points, the Senior High School (SHS) Legends with 479 points, the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Masters with 192.5 points, the first-timers Institute of Islamic, Arabic and International Studies (IIAIS) Tribals accumulated 109.5 points, and the College of Law (COL) Jurists got 65.5 points.
One
Last Piece
FAYROUZ OMAR
“Imoha na na.” The cold air brushes against us as we sit just outside the stalls. You nudge the plate towards me, the last slice of pizza untouched, like a moment we both hesitate to claim. The final sip of coffee is long gone, but the smell lingers, mixing with the scent of campus food and the buzz of conversations around us. I still hear the faint hum of music, Taylor Swift playing in the background. We used to sing along, our voices loud and carefree, laughing at the top of our lungs when we recognized her songs. But now, we sit here, quieter, older.
It’s been a long time since we’ve had this—just time. Time without assignments hanging over us, without rushing to the next class or meeting. Time to actually sit down and talk. We used to do this a lot more often, back when our schedules were still kinder, back when life didn’t feel so pressing. But now, moments like these are few and far between, and somehow, we both know that once this night is over, it’ll be a while before we can do this again. We’ve been so wrapped up in school, in the endless grind of academics, that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to just be us.. Not students with deadlines, but friends. Maybe more than friends, but we never really say it out loud.
There was a time when this was easy, when moments like this didn’t feel so rare. But life has a way of taking over, and now it feels like we’re always running out of time.
“Busog na kay ko, imoha na lang,” you chuckle at my statement, the sound warm and familiar, your smile reaching your eyes. I can’t help but smile back, my gaze drifting down to the last slice of pizza between us.
“Hala siya, unsa na nahitabo sa babaye nga dili gid pasagdan ang bisan unsang bilog?” You tease me, reminding me
how I never let anything go to waste— whether it was the last piece of bread, the final bite of dessert, or the last scoop of rice. That’s partly true; you always knew I couldn’t resist a morsel. But right now, I hesitate, acutely aware you wouldn’t take it if I offered. You always let me have the last bite.
So, if I had told you I didn’t want to take the last slice, just to make this moment stretch a little longer, would you still laugh? Yeah, I know, it’s just one slice left, but it’s also one last moment to enjoy together before we go on with our lives.
Will you choose to stay?
Maybe it’s because I’m not full. Maybe it’s because once the last slice is gone, so is this night. It means the conversation will slow to a stop, the laughter will fade, and we’ll go back to being wrapped up in our own worlds. But then again, moments like this are consistently inconsistent. Fair shares don’t always feel fair when the things we treasure the most are fleeting. Our time together will always feel like borrowed minutes, and I can’t help but cling to the irony— that we always say we’ll find time, but somehow, life always gets in the way.
It’s the realization that we, too, need moments of peace, of nothingness, before diving back into the demands of daily life. It’s the same feeling when we’re with people who matter, where the conversation stretches into the night because neither of us wants to leave.
When was the last time you let time slip by without rushing to the next thing? Can you remember the last time you sat with someone, or even by yourself, and let the quiet moments unfold without the weight of everything else hanging over you? Maybe it was a conversation with an old friend where neither of
you wanted to say goodbye just yet. Or maybe it was a lazy afternoon with family, sharing countless stories over a dinner table. We forget how much we need those moments and how they carry us through the relentless days when life feels overwhelming.
Sometimes, it’s easier not to reach for it, to let the moment hang in the air, as if not finishing this meal means not finishing whatever we’ve started. And sometimes, just sometimes, we want to linger here a little longer, where everything feels right, where everything feels like it can wait.
But someone has to take the last slice.
We can’t sit here forever, with it laid uneaten and waiting. I’ll take the burden instead; after all, I’m good at carrying one. I did that for years. So, I reach for it slowly, feeling the coolness against my fingertips. As I take a bite, the last slice tastes dry and cold, a reminder of what was and what’s to come, but I chew it slowly, wishing for just a little more time before everything shifts back to the ordinary.
As intramurals come to an end, the fun will fade, the competitions will be over, and we’ll be left with memories. Yet, in this small act of savoring the last bite, I take pride and perhaps a bit of faith that this won’t be the last moment we share like this—not yet.
The table may be cleared, but as we stand to leave, I’ll be waiting for the next time we’re here, sitting across from each other, sharing another meal, talking about everything and nothing at all.
Perhaps then, we could also talk about us—over another piece of pizza.
Relentless Reapers obtain grand slam, annihilate Vanguards with clean sweep in women’s volleyball finals
John Wynne Escolano
The College of Agriculture (COA) Reapers reigned supreme once again, triumphing in the women’s volleyball title game to complete an incredible three-peat.
Fueled by fierce defense and thunderous spikes, the Reapers obliterated the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) Vanguards’ dreams of a championship, showcasing their prowess and determination at the University Open Court on October 14.
Executing their plays to perfection, the COA team flipped the switch with a champion’s mindset, dominating every set—25-17, 2518, 25-17—dismantling the Vanguards’ title hopes with unyielding determination and leaving them with a silver medal, while their emphatic victory secured a historic threepeat that further solidified the Reapers’ legacy under their college banner.
The first set erupted with a powerful surge from COA, demonstrating their veteran poise and winner’s mentality, which left CSSH scrambling to keep up as they expertly avoided careless mistakes that could jeopardize their relentless pursuit of victory, winning the set 25-17.
In an effort to keep pace, the Vanguards adjusted their strategy and attempted to retaliate against the Reapers. However, COA bolstered their defense, blocking every spike and dismantling CSSH’s game plan, ultimately capturing the second set with a score of 25-18.
Throughout the final set, the Reapers’ spikers controlled the game’s tempo, unleashing powerful spikes that the Vanguards struggled to counter. This dominance culminated in a successful grand slam title bid, ultimately sealing the victory with a final score of 25-17 “Ana jud ko sa ilaha [akong teammates], patience lang jud, salig lang jud sa sarili, syempre kay pang three-peat na ug grand slam na karon na year,” shared Reapers team captain Ivy Taghoy, offering words of encouragement to her teammates to stay focused on each game, especially after the tournament shifted to a bracketing format that posed new challenges for them.
She characterized this year’s championship as truly rewarding, highlighting the sacrifices they made by practicing early in the morning while juggling their academic responsibilities and conditioning for their games.
With some senior players, including her, finishing their chapter in the Reapers’ dynasty, she challenges the new players, particularly the freshmen, to elevate their commitment, as she looks forward to another grand slam for their volleyball program.
ASTEEGS, Decena extend winning run to claim 4-straight crown in Intramural football
Niel Zsun John Vega
Extending their dominance in the title match, the College of Engineering (COE) ASTEEGS clinched their fourth consecutive crown with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) Tycoons, etching their name in the history books today, October 15, at the University Football Field.
Demonstrating his masterful dribbling skills honed over years of playing the sport, ASTEEGS team captain and four-time Intramurals champion Darwin Decena scored two remarkable goals—one from the left side and another from a free kick—in the first half of the match, giving his team a crucial
Pinili’s
home run
advantage.
With this victory, the COE has extended its winning streak, now crowned as four-time champions and achieving their third consecutive title since the Intramurals resumed following the pandemic.
ASTEEGS’ generational talent, freshman Francis Erl Onggo, displayed his quality and potential, having participated in two consecutive Palarong Pambansa tournaments, where his team secured a bronze medal this year in his final year of secondary football.
Onggo captivated the crowd throughout the competition, particularly in their semifinal
match against rivals, the College of Agriculture Reapers, where he netted the decisive goal that sealed their victory.
Making it difficult for their opponents to mount a defense, Decena and Onggo emerged as key players in this year’s lineup, they were unable to break through, ultimately allowing the ASTEEGS to secure the title once again.
Meanwhile, the College of Education Mentors celebrated an authoritative success over the College of Agriculture Reapers, claiming the bronze with a commanding 4-1 win.
hit flourish ASTEEGS with softball repeat title via 10-2 victory over Anglers
In a thrilling display of sheer willpower, Unice Pinili led off with two home runs, propelling the College of Engineering ASTEEGS to a commanding victory and a back-to-back feat, triumphing over the College of Fisheries Anglers with 10-2 at the University Softball Field on October 15.
The COE took control early, and Pinili’s standout performance as the most valuable player (MVP) became their backbone in sealing their path to victory.
ASTEEGS wasted no time in their play as Sandy Jaye Salili opened the game with a stunning home run, giving the ASTEEGS a quick 1-0 lead.
The COE did not let the momentum slip through, as their successive hitters delivered,
sending the scoresheets, 2-0, in ASTEEGS favor.
As ASTEEGS Marian Fe Guiñares saw herself at the plate, her hit was crucial in sending Rollyne Jane Hermora home, finishing the inning 3-0.
Battery Salili and Hermora held down the fort for COE with the Anglers struggling at the plate as Irene Doria’s attempt foiled ASTEEGS Pinili’s swift catch at first base.
Cindy Mae Quilantang of the Anglers also followed with a strikeout, as did their third batter, who also went down on strikes, leaving the score untouched at 3-0 for the ASTEEGS.
In the bottom of the second inning, the ASTEEGS plowed their way as their batters were currently on fire, adding up two more runs with the inning conclusion, 5-0.
Despite the ASTEEGS another point on the following inning, the Anglers also poured down crucial hits for their squad, closing the gap to four as the third inning ended, 6-2.
The game’s turning point came in the fourth inning when COE’s Pinili, with bases fully loaded, stepped up and delivered her second home run of the game.
This grand slam brought home her three teammates at the bases, and Pinili herself, pushing ASTEEGS lead to a commanding 10-2.
The final inning saw ASTEEGS Salili and Hermora maintain their dominance over the Anglers through their successive strikes and flyouts, as the game ended 102, with the referees’ decision.
