Eagles topple Warriors’ Dynasty

By Hyacinth L. Premacio & Nedshla Acebes

Time had stood still. For two years, The Xavier Cup (TXC) gathered dust on the mantle of the College of Engineering Warriors—its home for the last six years of Intramurals. As the horns blew for the return of the matches, the Warriors stood tall, ready to defend their dynasty. And yet, who would have thought that a soar of eagles would swoop in?

In pursuit of greatness

As early as January, the School of Business Management (SBM) Eagles were already sharpening their claws and readying their wings. Their student athletes were already gearing up for the Intramurals, with their sights set on the highly coveted TXC. Even before the university began hyping up the event, the athletes took it upon themselves to form their own teams, driven by their passion for sports and their desire to represent their school with pride. With each passing day, the excitement grew, and the teams worked tirelessly to prepare themselves mentally and physically for the challenges ahead.

One would think that the School of Business and Management Student Council (SBMSC) had months to organize everything with the way their student athletes dominated the Intramurals, but they really only had a month to ensure every piece was in play and that the only worry their players would have is the games themselves. For SBMSC President Paul Silmonet (BS ManAcc 3), communication was the key to victory. With efficient communication and teamwork, they were able to pull off this magnificent victory.

The rest of the Eagles share this sentiment with basketball team captain Aerich Sajulga (BSBA FM 4) expressing the statement “we built each other’s confidence and trust in the system by communicating effectively to ensure team efficiency and productivity.”

Conquering mountains

The road to victory was not easy as challenges littered their paths. Even before the Xavier Cup commenced, there were already challenges that the SBM Eagles had to overcome. From gathering the council and allocating their resources and services to the athletes and supporters alike. “As someone who has not experienced the Xavier Cup, I really did not know what to expect, but we just went with the flow and eventually, everything fell onto [sic] the right place and worked out,” Silmonet confessed.

The Eagles also had to retool their rosters, with several players already having graduated during the two-year hiatus of the Xavier Cup. Lack of experience was an issue as there were several players who were complete rookies to the fiery atmosphere the Intramurals brought to the campus. Sajulga shares his experience in leading a team of mostly rookies to a three-peat title in men’s basketball where lack of experience was an issue but he made sure his team overcame it by showcasing a true champion’s spirit.

The other competitors were clearly not just going to roll over for the Eagles, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Tigers, especially, were worthy opponents that had come quite close to overtaking the Eagles. The former, had at one point, only been 15 points behind.

The camaraderie within each team of the SBM Eagles was also unmatched, they functioned as a cohesive unit both on and off the field. The bonds they forged as teammates went beyond the game and were evident in their strong support for each other. This unity set them apart from the other colleges and helped them emerge as champions. year’s games, “This Intramurals placed us in a huge pressure as to the reason of defending the throne that was defended and won six years in a row. The pressure was then converted to huge disappointments and frustrations as the results of each games[sic] comes[sic] in every day. Reports of losing and winning made us feel anxious.” He also added that this loss motivated them to come back stronger in the next Xavier Cup.

Injuries, drawn-out games, and sudden changes in schedules also plagued the Eagles, but they pressed on. For Ultimate player Jules Viernes (BSBA MM 1), “Way moundang hantud wa pa nahuman.” No matter what challenges they faced, the Eagles persevered. The 19 gold medals they garnered were certainly a testament to their unwavering perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

It was a far cry from the domineering performance they put out in 2019. That year, the SBM Eagles anguished over their fourth-place finish. Now the tides have turned and the Eagles have soared so far above, the tribe could not reach them.

Despite the Warriors defeat, Maneja congratulates the Eagles for a job well done and leaves a message for the yellow-clad champions to always keep the fire burning and to keep soaring to new heights.

Glorious in flight

The return of the most awaited Xavier Cup inspired the hearts of every school and college in the University, and the SBM Eagles were no different. They were eager to participate in the upcoming event with enthusiasm, ready to play their hearts out. More than that, they were motivated to represent their school with pride and demonstrate their strength to their competitors.

When the partial tabulation was first released, the Eagles were already in first place, Silmonet shared how they celebrated in joy and vowed to keep being consistent and win it all for their college. As the games progressed, the Eagles made it clear they were a force to be reckoned with. They dominated their opponents in every match, displaying an impressive level of skill and teamwork. Their offense was unstoppable, their defense impenetrable. With each victory, the Eagles grew more confident, and their supporters grew louder.

Amidst the turmoil of the games, the SBM Eagles had the backing of their fellow college mates, in every match the Eagles were in, the stands were filled to the brim with yellow. Their cheers and chants bolstered their teams to push through and leave the other colleges burnt from their glorious blaze.

Fates reversed

The Warriors were in a good place at the start of the games, but as the week progressed, the tribe found itself losing steam and dropped down the standings to fourth. As the Eagles continued to hover the skies, it was becoming clear that there would be no seven-peat for the maroon-clad Warriors.

Association of the College of Engineering Students (ACES) President Vincent Maneja (BSEE 3) laments his tribe’s fourth place finish in this

With camaraderie and support, the Eagles were able to claw through doubts, along with their opponents, as they flew head-on to victory. Game after game, the Eagles soared above and beyond— their staggering 534 points accumulated were simply too much for the other schools and colleges to catch up to.

“It feels really good to bring back the title to the School of Business and Management since it reflected on how we, as one team, put out our best efforts, hard work, and motivation to win every single game.” Silmonet declared.

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Claws out, beaks shown, and wings spread— the SBM Eagles soared heights greater than they’ve known. They conquered the Xavier Cup and proven to themselves and the student body that they were capable of greatness.

For the SBM Eagles, this victory was more than just a title—it was the culmination of months of hard work, perseverance, and unshakable faith in their abilities.C