The Crusader Publication Sports Magazine 2015 by The Crusader Publication

Contents 1 | Editorial

2 | Column

Rise and Fall:

The 2015 Cheerdance Competition

6 | Sports News Cover story 12 | When Warriors become Kings: Extending the Maroon Era

12 The Cover

he Maroon Era has been extended. Despite all efforts to oust them from the throne, doing so proved futile, for when you hurt a Warrior, the whole Tribe takes revenge. The Eagles, spending their second year as second best, can only look upon the throne with envy. Now all creatures—real and mythical alike—tremble under the Warriors’ watch. Words by Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita Design by Christian Loui S. Gamolo

Crusader

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The official student publication of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Editors Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera Editor in Chief, Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita Associate Editor, Keith Obed J. Ruiz Design Editor, Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas Managing Editor, Andrew Rey L. del Fierro News Editor, Mary Antoniette M. Magallanes Campus Features Editor, Rezza Mae B. Tolinero Local Features Editor, Kevin Paul P. Mabul External Features Editor, Lorenzo A. Botavara Sports Editor, Jericho B. Montellano Graphic Design and Layout Editor, Jigo L. Racaza Photography Editor, Rico M. Magallona Freehand Editor | Finance Officers Jigo L. Racaza Auditor, Maria Gladys B. Labis Senior Finance Manager, Anna Jamela Soraida S. Balindong Junior Finance Manager | Managers Lynette L. Tuvilla Human Resource Manager, Marlon R. Boro Office Manager, Mark D. Rodriguez Circulation Manager, Evan B. Aranas Video Productions Manager, Jo Marie Claire B. Balase Online Accounts Manager, Senior Computer Systems Manager, Ker Ruben A. Ramos Junior Computer Systems Manager | Staff Writers Nikki Gay Louise P. Amores (Trainee), Alexa Kim K. Bacong (Trainee), Merryane Rose S. Bacud (Trainee), Raizah L. Bagul (Trainee), Harmony Kristel D. Balino (Trainee), Charissa D. Santiago (Trainee)| Staff Artists Maria Kristina G. Abing (Trainee), John Niccolo A. Aquino, Ben Clark B. Balase, Paul Clinton B. Balase, Jamerah Marie M. Balindong (Trainee), Ian Kenneth O. Bicar (Trainee), Marlon R. Boro, Deciri Beione Tharyn A. Braña (Trainee), Ej Gallego (Trainee), Christian Loui S. Gamolo, Dave Allyster R. Gultiano (Trainee), Jinky M. Mejica (Trainee), Mark D. Rodriguez, Jon Michael A. Semilla (Trainee), Jan Michael A. Sy, Paul Joshua B. Tan (Trainee), Lynette L. Tuvilla, Rizalyka Joanne M. Waminal (Trainee) Moderator Ms. Ann Catherine Ticao-Acenas For contributions, please address your articles and/or comments to: The Crusader Publication Office, Rm. 302, Student Center Bldg, Xavier University 9000, Cagayan de Oro City Circulation: 7, 500 copies

Editorial

A fighting chance

Crusader

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Illustration by Christian Loui S. Gamolo

nother year, another intramurals, another college crowned the overall champion. The University undergoes a veritable transformation every time the annual tournament nears—a time when the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship seems to possess the members of each individual college, who then all band together to give their college a chance at victory. When it comes to resources and manpower, however, some of the colleges simply have a monumental, almost-insurmountable advantage over all the others. The past years have seen a trend in the overall champions, with the crown predictably alternating between the “Big 3” colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, and School of Business and Management. As the colleges with the highest number of enrollees, they have access to a considerable pool of resources that, when used, directly translates to their domination over the tournaments, trailing within a 200-point margin of the College of Agriculture in 4th place and leaving the other colleges in the dust with a point margin of 250-550 points in last year’s competition. Through no fault of their own, the competition then becomes completely skewed in their favor, and a skewed competition can no longer be considered fair. The problem shouldn’t be mistaken for the constant victories of any of the Big 3. Rather, this reality can be the root of the problem, which is that students can grow more apathetic to intrams if they feel their college stands no chance in winning the competition. The solution is simple: why not integrate the colleges together? Why not let the smaller colleges cooperate to create a force that can contend with any of the Big 3? Victory has never been the focus of intrams and probably never will be. Since its conception, the values of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and physical fitness have always been prized over personal glory. With that in mind, the integration of the different colleges during intrams would serve to not only give the smaller colleges a fighting chance but also promote the camaraderie and spirit of sportsmanship between the students of each college. Teamwork and spirit will continue to be prized over glory, as it should be. Imagine an alliance between the Wizards of Compstud and the Knights of CIT, squaring off to fight the Warriors for their throne. Or the thrills of an unprecedented win by the joint forces of SOE Phoenixes and the Law Lady Justice. The possibility of winning—that fighting chance—is enough to get students more energized , even more supportive of their college’s prospects. It would be a mistake to believe that the simple alliance between two colleges, especially ones that greatly differ in schedules and interests, would automatically solve this issue of fairness. It may very well be that there are too many factors to account for when evaluating the performances of each college. However, we should at least level the playing field. A fighting chance is a chance everyone deserves.C

Opinion

Kindled Serotonin By Rezza Mae B. Tolinero

riendship, alliance, and unity— The Xavier Cup 2015 focused on the idea that the intramurals is everybody’s game. It reminded everyone that strong competitions could be done through friendly games, that buoyant cheers should not be transformed into unkind attacks, and that the intramurals should not be a venue for rivalry. It would be a good thing if this was also the case for our next big game. So which team are you rooting for? Is it yellow, blue, or orange? No, I am not talking about the University colors. Let’s zoom in to our country’s future. With the election period fast approaching, every politician contending to get the people’s votes have chosen colors to use for their campaigns. You might have seen them on the television or read about them in the internet, obviously ready to smash their opponents, defend their positions, and even sugar-coat their blunders. You might have also received fans, candies, and shirts with their names and—in a worst-case scenario — their face.

Slipstream By Kevin Paul P. Mabul

Our ‘Cup’ of tea You might have also heard about each one’s achievements, blatantly aired on media as if they were shampoo products claiming to be number one. But is this really necessary? Should there be a need to turn yesterday’s allies into foes? To fire those who are not in your favor? To distort the truth and claim sympathy? To flood the television with your ads? To lift yourself by pulling others down? This year’s Intramurals is over and has already declared a champion. On the other field, however, a match is just beginning. It is a match wherein the majority would not play as spectators but as game changers. Elections then, like intramurals, should be everybody’s game. We belong to one nation, we belong to one city. No matter how dirty the elections may seem, if you have the ability to select not the lesser evil but the exact, right one, then you are good to go. Intrams is over and you’ve already done your part. Now I welcome you to the upcoming 2016 elections; let the games begin!C

Back in my day...

ur generation’s definition of fun used to be of knocking cans over with slippers, propelling rubber bands on some surface with cupped hands, and skipping over hurriedlydrawn rectangles on the floor. More than a decade has passed since then and we’ve all grown up. As we reminisce, we could not help but compare our past selves with the current bunch of younglings eyes-glued to their tablets, phones, and other tappy things. “Kids and their gadgets,” we say, as we remark on how we are the last generation to have experienced the joys of playing outside, placing a negative connotation on the gadgets presumed to be turning us into zombies. We’re certainly not the last, and the devices these kids play with are helping out more than we first think. For one, many games on the market help develop creativity, and no better example stands than ‘Minecraft’, an open-world sandbox with the simple premise of letting players do whatever they want, eventually finding its way into millions of kids who treated it like fully interactive, digital LEGO sets. It’s not all about instant gratification, too, as they had to work for the blocks they build with and the resources they need to survive. Furthermore, unique experiences exercise their young noggins, from simply navigating unfamiliar

menus to learning new sets of rules that define each game. A kid progressing through ten levels of Plants vs. Zombies or beating his high score on Subway Surfers, for example, only means figuring out the strategy that works best among the many other missteps that failed to do so. That takes skill, and doesn’t real life work similarly? It’s not all fun and games, however. Handing kids these “advanced toys” also means giving them access to the practically infinite amount of information available on the internet. This being an effective augmentation to what children pick up in school more than makes up for the parental guidance required in monitoring what they are exposed to. Even YouTube channels primarily intended for humour will teach them, albeit indirectly, at least one thing they previously didn’t know about the world. While they may be spending a bit more time with their gadgets than we comfortably like, quickly concluding that they spend very little to socialize and play outside is nothing short of a hasty generalization. Perhaps we just don’t see them, as we move about with our adult lives doing adult things. How one generation spends their free time is not necessarily inferior just because it’s different from how we did back then. Technology will always progress, and as it does, it brings along modern forms of entertainment and education that deserve more credit than what we initially give out.C Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Opinion

Pocket Strategist By Lorenzo B. Botavara

Crusader

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In Defense Of (The Ancients)

t is nothing less than a legitimate sport, worth a heck of a fortune whose value will have grown more than a few dollars by the time this sentence is over. In fact, athletes of Defense of the Ancients (DoTA and DoTA 2), League of Legends (LoL), and other eSports earn good money in international and regional competitions. The biggest of which is the recently concluded and aptly dubbed “The International”, boasting a staggering USD 18,429,613 prize pool with the champion team taking home roughly a third of that amount. With a fanbase practically covering every inhabited continent, what was once treated a “sport” has snowballed those quotation marks off on its unprecedented roll down the slope to legitimacy, to the delight of the long-existent Filipino gaming community. You’ve probably met members of the said community when you had to print projects at internet cafés because your printer suddenly stopped working. You might have even heard them scream at their monitors and rage-type on their keyboard because of a terribly-performing teammate; this is the generic image of the Filipino gamer—a dropout, an internetan dormer, an irritable person. However, a large population of eSports patrons in the University would love to disagree with that. Those generics may constitute a fraction of the local gaming community, but there

are many college students who kick ass in DoTA with as much finesse as they ace their majors. XU has a number of educated gamers, if you will. Xavier also has a DoTA 2 version of the Crusaders who emerged as one of the top two teams from the Cagayan de Oro qualifiers of the National Cyber Collegiate League (NCCL), a national DoTA 2 tournament whose competing teams compose a minimum of five players coming from the same school. Although not an official varsity team, it would be unfortunate if these people’s efforts in representing XU in national competitions would go unnoticed. The University boasts a deep pool of talent with a growing player base for eSports. Why not develop, rather than disregard this potential by organizing similar competitions such as those held by the College of Computer Studies and the mini-tournament held during the annual Xavier Days? Gaming offers the same amount of entertainment and thrill to its spectators. Given XU’s player base, this event would be a surefire crowd-drawer, should it be developed further. On the players’ part, it promotes great teamwork, ingame communication, and quick decision-making in read-and-react situations—attributes also necessary for athletes in other sports. Indeed, a gamer’s utopia would include having eSports as an actual intramurals event, and every year it seems lesser a far-off notion.C

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. Bagayas and Charissa D.

even colleges fought for the throne and the pinnacle of the pyramid. With months of conceptualization, preparation, and training spent on coming up with jaw-dropping stunts and heartstopping performances, the fight for the coveted trophy has never been fiercer. Kingdoms have risen and fallen over the years, and so have pyramids and one-man lifts. With seven colleges in the running and months of labor spent into this dangerously beautiful sport, the 2015 cheerdance competition set the perfect tone for the rest of the games. Last minute retreat Wanting to bounce back from last year’s withdrawal, the CIT’s Knights Cheer League was determined for a comeback. Funds were raised and the performers were trained, eager for their return on center stage. The stage, after missing their performance last season, was more than ready to accommodate the gallant Knights. However, according to their student council president and fellow cheerdance participant Karl Kester Enguito, an important document was not signed due to several reasons, forcing the Knights to back out at the last minute.

By Samantha Isabelle H

Return from the ward After pulling out from the competition in the previous year, the Pythons slithered back, tongues flicking and seeking redemption. Showing their might in numbers, big voices chanted as the Nursing Pythons kicked off their performance with a series of dynamic motions. With generally younger looking performers, the routine took a lively youthful spin as fast-paced music and well-timed lifts made for a dynamic performance despite their lack in difficult stunts. The Pythons went wild as each flyer was lifted up and performed nearly flawless awesomes. Things started to look bad for the Pythons when two out of four flyers fell, and the other two still a little shaky as they performed torches, arabesques, and a pretty girl stunt. As dancers made well-timed, snappy motions, others performed cartwheels and got things rolling across the stage. They then proceeded to the skies as flyers were lifted to form hitches and pyramids. The Pythons proved that lifts and tosses alone do not make a great performance.Still a little rusty from their year off the competition however, the Pythons landed in seventh place with 54.18 points.

Santiago

One, flying family With no intention of beating around the bush, the Warriors immediately gave the audience a taste of the action. Flyers were raised and tossed as deep voices echoed. Their fellow Warriors in the audience showed that though they weren’t part of the dance, they were definitely part of the cheers, proving that they were indeed one tribe and one family. Snappy motions followed the chant before they transitioned to a series of flips, scales, and bows and arrows. However, things quickly went down for the Warriors when bases struggled in the transitions and in supporting flyers. Thus, some failed to perform in collaborate group arabesques and scales. The crowd went wild as two male dancers threw cheeky shakes and lip synced as the audio played “Kami ang mga pabebe girls”. Everyone then watched in awe as two flyers were tossed several feet into the hands of another set of bases. Then, the audience suddenly held their breaths as flyers held hands and free-falled backwards as in a trust-fall exercise. In the end, the Warriors fell back into sixth place with 56.18 points, two steps down from last year’s fourth place.

Ambush of the bulls Clad in their black and gold Egyptian-themed uniforms, the Aggie Bullwhippers stood defiantly to make a change from their last place standing in the 2014 cheerdance competition. Starting their routine with the Ateneo chant, the Bullwhippers swung their black batons with neon green ribbons while performing an array of motions. A brief pause, with their batons thrown to the side, marked the beginning of an explosive segment of stunts and throws. In their charge for the championship, the Bullwhippers controlled the floor with a frenzy of heel stretch pyramids, team scales, bow and arrows, scorpions and arabesques; their flyers’ feet seemed to rarely touch the ground as their dismounts transitioned into another stunt. The Bullwhippers’ dynamic routine held non-stop action, even during their section of motions, as flyers made stunts and flips in the background. The Bullwhippers capped off their ambush

when a squad member stole the spotlight with a solo dance routine, later strutting with a gold headdress, seemingly on the way to claim the throne. Although their routine was branded with impressive stunts, it seemed overworked, resulting in messy floor action. Their charge garnered 72. 68 points, landing them in 4th place. Ongoing ascent Dressed in blue and white bodysuits, the Phoenixes held their pompoms as they awaited their chance to redeem themselves from their 5th place standing in last year’s competition. Their routine was off to a weak start when they performed simple motions along with the Ateneo chant. This was later changed when they huddled in the center of the stage before transforming into a flurry of wild movement on the floor. With a series of high kicks and synchronized toe touches, the Phoenixes seemed to rely heavily on their fast-paced movements, as these comprised a great portion of their performance. Although their stunts were considerably fewer compared to the other colleges, they excelled particularly well in team stunts, especially in a segment of team heel stretches and arabesques. However, the squad swiftly recovered with clean throws and dismounts. The Phoenixes matched their high kicks, splits, and motions with each ping of their beat. They closed their performance with a stream of team front flips and partner stunts, later falling to their knees, as a lone flyer performed a scorpion in mid-air. Carried by their clean execution and well-executed stunts, the Phoenixes garnered 73.12 points, bagging 3rd place. Greater heights Proudly showcasing their college in a hitch pyramid, the School of Business and Management (SBM) AllStars were sent into a plethora of movement after the blow of the whistle. With the male bases leading the forefront in flawless motions and toe touches, the squad kicked off their routine with rapid throws and stunts. A display of fast arabesques with two or threeman bases became one of All-Stars’ small victories that night. Their successive stream of stunts proved to be too much for a flyer when she suffered a hard fall during a team heel stretch. This only marked

one of the mistakes of the All-Stars as they tried to regain their gusto. Nonetheless, they made up for their faults with energetic motions and backflips while a lone flyer did a toe touch toss in the background. Although minor hiccups occurred during the performance with yet another flyer losing her footing in a hitch pyramid, the All-Stars shouldered on, unperturbed. In a fast-paced rendition of “Burnin’ Up”, the squad’s energy was seemingly renewed by a costume change—an additional tribal skirt and white mask—and a dynamic dance routine. Despite the misses, the SBM All-Stars soared to 2nd place with 77.62 points.

A force to be reckoned with Previously regarded as the underdogs of the competition, the Wizards have proven themselves to be worthy competitors, gradually bagging top spots year by year. Donning gray uniforms and fuchsia-tipped hair, they blasted their routine with synchronized motions and with what seemed to be an unstoppable force of nature. Waving their yellow and pink pompoms, the Wizards hardly stopped to catch a breath before they effortlessly performed a team cupie. With daring dismounts that gave new meaning to the term “flyer”, their stunts finished off with fearless throws, redone with creative surmounts. In a twist of events, the Wizards made a sudden costume change — their bases tearing the fabric from their uniforms to reveal a violet and yellow dress — as they followed a salsa-esque dance routine. Dynamic floor action, coupled with Swedish falls pyramids and impressive throws, proved that the Wizards are the team to look out for. As their flyers grooved to salsa both in the air and on the floor, the Wizards were unstoppable in their quest for victory. The routine had an even more iconic ending: a male base was carried to the center, laughing at all who still dared belittle the former underdogs. With four costume changes and a roaring crowd, Wizards were finally hailed first-time champions with 83.26 points.

*** Cheerdancing has proven itself to be a beautifully unpredictable sport. This year’s competition has demonstrated that nothing is constant. Royalties can fall and underdogs can rise when several competitors are hoisted in competition for the top spot. C

Design by Maria Kristina G. Abing

Fallen kings Roars of hype and high expectations echoed as people in dark colored costumes streaked with red and gold pounced towards center stage. With an African theme to their performance and eyes literally red with determination, the Tigers kicked off the event with snappy motions as they cheered their college chant, their fellow Tigers in the bleachers chanting with them in chorus. The ArtScies faithful roared in awe as the center flyer performed a kick-single basket followed by a heel stretch and torch before transitioning to a perfect double full basket. Each female dancer then performed a split lift before being lifted up to form picture perfect scorpions and scales. Bows and arrows were then thrown followed by flawless arabesques. In the midst of the hype, things started to go down for the Tigers as weak bases resulted in occasional falls. Cheerdancers who threw cheeky shakes and kisses intended for the crowd ended up kissing the ground instead. The Tigers however, recovered when three flyers were flipped before landing into a split-lift and being raised for a perfect hitch. The Tigers ended with a roar and dynamic motions to the song “Waka Waka.” Earning 68.74points, a big fall from first to fifth place, their performance however was not enough to prove that the Tigers were still the kings of the jungle.

Sports

Warriors, Eagles cordon off lawn tennis titles By Nikki Gay Louise P. Amores and Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera

EAGLE PRECISION. Eagle Lyra Batao returns a strongly driven shot back to the opposing court.

L SLASH AND SPLASH. SBM’s Beal Dumapias evades an Aggie defender in the rain-drenched matchup. [J. RACAZA]

Bulls ruffle Eagles’ feathers for football three-peat By Charissa D. Santiago

he College of Agriculture continues to dominate the football field, and by now, are so experienced that even penalty shootout blunders do little to faze their focus. This was apparent in the September 23 championships at the XU Field, where they clipped the SBM Eagles’ feathers, 4-3, on penalties. Proving that they did mean business, the Eagles controlled the tempo in the first half. The Bulls, however, had just the answer in the form of goalkeeper Timothy Daniel Jayson. After foiling several of the Eagles’ attempts, the Bulls switched to offense but had trouble slicing through SBM’s defense as well. The first half ended with both colleges empty handed. The empty scoreboard barely reflected the intensity of the game, however, which featured a series of on-target attempts from both sides in a nail-biting, albeit scoreless second half. Both teams were filled with anxiety in the pressure-filled 30 minutes of additional time. Despite the heart-stopping duel of talons 6

and horns, both teams came out scoreless again. Things looked dim for the Aggie Bulls in the penalty shootout as they missed their first and third kicks. SBM, on the other hand, converted on their first three attempts to the elation of their Yellow-clad supporters. But those cheers gradually diminished as the Bulls began scoring consecutively, trailing by a mere point. Breaths were held as one of the best strikers in the tournament approached the penalty mark: SBM’s Beal Dumapias. Anxiety turned into jubilation for Aggies as Jayson deflected the attempt with the tip of his fingers and the succeeding Aggie kick came through. With scores tied 3-3, each college sent a final player. Finding themselves in an all too familiar predicament, the Bulls were too good to lose a shootout in a final kicker situation as they scored another goal and won another title. Breaking through the CIT Knights’ armor in the battle for third place, the ArtScies Tigers succeeded Aggies and SBM in the final rankings. C

[J. RACAZA]

iving up to everyone's expectations, the Engineering Warriors pierced through SBM Eagles' clever advances, taking hold of the men's division matches at Barangay 40 Tennis Court on September 17. Meanwhile in the women's division, the Lady Eagles dominated the courts against CIT Knights to complete an incredible five-time championship streak. Warrior Kent Malalis owned Eagle Spencer Sagrado in the men’s singles, 8-3, in the opening match. Anticipation began building up as the doubles match commenced and Warrior Aljon Apaap teamed up with Malalis. With two surefire hitters, Engineering threatened to overpower the opposition. However, Eagle Marlow Abella matched their hits with his speed and decisiveness. With the intensity with which the match was being played, Malalis slipped and gashed his arm and knee. Shaking the cobwebs off, he stood up and continued playing. The matched reached a lull before going into a tie-break situation which the Warriors won handily to earn them the gold medal, 7-7 (7-2). In the women’s singles, the Lady Eagles started off shaky as Lady Knight Donna Salcedo flunked Eagle Lyra Batao, 8-5, giving CIT a head start. The Knights’ synergy, however, left much to be desired as the Eagles retaliated in the doubles match. The teamwork of veterans Claire Chynne Alas and Batao owned what seemed to be a twoversus-one match, snatching what momentum the Knights managed to gain early. Alas painlessly ended the deciding singles match, 8-2, sealing the championship for the Eagles. The ArtScies Tigers and Engineering Warriors placed third in the men’s and women’s division, respectively.C

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Sports

Warriors dismantle Bulls in men’s softball finals By Lorenzo A. Botavara

he Warriors were a notch above the Bulls in every aspect of September 17’s softball title match at the XU Field. For them, everything fell in place at the right time – this was the year of the Warrior. Hitting a pair of homeruns constituting five points in the final inning for a 12-1 total, the College of Engineering drained the life out of the Aggies Bulls with lockdown defense before delivering the killing blows. With the way the Warrior batters were hitting, the fact that the Bulls held them at three points in the first inning was a promising sign for the green shirts. However, they failed to capitalize on their decent defensive FULL EXTENSION. Momentum carries a Warrior’s swing past his shoulder after a decent pitch. start by giving away easy flyballs on [J.RACAZA] offense which the opposing fielders were more than happy to take advantage of. his homebase run and slid a moment too late. left in them as celebrations began erupting Engineering’s cleverly placed groundballs The Warriors pulled away for good in from the Engineering bench, but the Warrior into the deep left field kept the Aggie defense the third inning which saw a pair of missiles defense would not budge notwithstanding. on their toes in the second inning, where the driven deep into the right and midfield The SBM Eagles edged out defending Bulls also scored their lone point. The third by brilliant swings from Kent Malalis champions, College of Computer Studies out for Aggies was a heartbreaker of a callout and Admiral Morados, respectively. The Wizards in a high-scoring bronze medal where the runner, Steve Cutillas, hesitated on disheartened Bulls spent what fight they had match. C

Lady Justice, Eagles, lock in top spots in chess By Rezza Mae B. Tolinero

fter a mentally-demanding roundrobin tournament, the College of Law and School of Business and Management emerged champions of the chess event’s women and men categories, respectively. Held at the Magis Student Complex on September 16 and 17, the tournament had the Law Lady Justice take the lead in the women’s category, garnering 17 match points with 28.5 game points. On the other hand, SBM Eagles lifted themselves above all in the men’s category with 16 match and 28 game points. Officiating manager Engr. Rogelio Golez Jr. shares that in his more than 20 years of managing tournaments, the Lady Justice had never made it to the top spot in the women’s category until this year. He also went on to testify that it is rare for a men’s category Crusader

The

James Loanzon, an SBM chess participant for the men’s category. Other teams who shared in the glory were the Engineering Warriors – the runners up in the women’s category with 15 match points and 28 game points, followed by the Eagles with MINDGAMES. Chess athletes ponder on their next moves. 14 match points with 28.5 [A. BALINDONG] game points. champion to have a woman on board one. In the men’s category, although tying the “I believe na-champion mi not because Eagles’ 16 match points, the Knights garnered we are the best but because we showed that 0.5-less game points than the Eagles’ 28, effective teamwork and constant gratitude to settling for second in the tournament. Aggies our mentors and supporters triumph more took the third spot with 12 match and 22 game regardless of age, gender or race,” says Melton points.C www.thecrusaderpublication.com

Sports

Warriors grill Wolves in women’s softball finals, stomp on Eagles’ five-peat By Nikki Gay Louise P. Amores

he Warriors excitedly embraced their success against the Wolves, 4-3, at the XU Field on September 17. After bagging only bronze last year, Engineering compensated for their lapses this time around. Smart maneuvers and sound decision-making from the Tribe outdid Medicine’s well-coordinated plays and deceptively strong offensive game. The Wolves had high hopes as they were the first to bat. However, Angelie Earle Patriana’s fly ball was caught early on by Warrior Kate Ellano; this showed the Warrior’s well-coordinated defense, rendering the Wolves scoreless in the opening inning. The Pack retaliated by stalling the Tribe’s aggression with reliable

pitcher Julie Mae Acero shooting out assertive fastballs. This, however, was not enough, as Warrior Kathy Paguican's fair ball resulted in their first homerun. After a series of sneaky steals, the Warriors earned their second point. Cheers emanated from the maroon tribe as they dominated the first inning, 2-0. As the second inning commenced, the determined Wolves found their footing as Quinzy Mae Guba slipped past Warriors' dauntless defenses and scored their first homerun. When the Wolves earned another point which resulted to a stalemate, tension among the players intensified. But the Warriors’ resolution earned them another homerun to close the second inning still a

point above their opponents, 3-2. Engineering Ivy Padigos opened the third inning with another homerun. Attempting to mount a comeback, Wolves toughened their already rock-hard defensive schemes and gambled for homeruns on a decent hit. The attempt was thwarted by the Warriors by turning a potential comeback from Medicine into a double play to end the game, 4-3. The Tigers, who bagged silver last year, settled for third place this year after besting the Phoenixes, 8-3. The Eagles, on the other hand, after holding the title for five consecutive years, were outsmarted during the crossover matches, depriving them of the chance to defend their roost this year.C

Engineering Warriors extend rule over Taekwondo territory By Kevin Paul P. Mabul

fter a flurry of well-placed hits and ensuing cheers from the crowd, the Engineering Warriors, freshly sat upon Taekwondo throne from last year’s intramurals, reemerged as champions as they accumulated the most number of medals during the matches held on September 15 at XU Covered Courts. The Warriors gathered a total of 119 points, nearly twice as much as its top competitors, through five gold, seven silver, and four bronze medals across all weight divisions on both men’s and women’s events. Warriors who battled through the competition and earned gold include Dennis Timbal for flyweight, Dan Jegger Soria for welter-middleweight, and Arthur Callao for heavyweight. In the women’s division, Iona Kae Macarambon and Renel Juaneza claimed victory for the finweight and bantamweight divisions, respectively. Trailing the Warriors are the Aggie Bulls, raking in one gold, two silver, and six bronze medals, earning them second place with a total of 61.5 points, with the lone gold 8

AXE KICK. Red player gains massive points, scoring a hit on his counterpart’s head.

belonging to Patricia Glema in the flyweight division. Coming in at third place and nearly tied with the Bulls are the Artscies Tigers with 59.5 points, clawing in three gold, one silver,

[M. RODRIGUEZ]

and four bronze medals. Mervin Rodrigo took the top spot for lightweight, Ericka Louise Borreta for featherweight, and Adde Gayle Valdehuesa for the welter-heavyweight divisions.C Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Sports

Warriors continue to dominate Eagles, retain Ultimate title By Rezza Mae B. Tolinero

MISDIRECTION. Phoenix makes a blind pass to an open teammate. [M. SY]

his year’s Ultimate championship game saw the same teams vie for the title as that of the last—a grudge match between the Engineering Warriors and the SBM Eagles. The Warriors proved better than the Eagles, again, edging out their bitter rivals, 15-11. Both teams exchanged points until a 5-5 deadlock signaled the beginning of a Warrior surge. They scored four consecutive points, leaving the Eagles behind with the score 9-5. The Eagles retaliated with three points of their own to keep their championship dreams alive, nearly measuring up with the Warriors, 9-8. However, in a stretch after that juncture, the Warriors outscored the Eagles to extend their lead to five, 14-9; SBM never recovered their lost momentum. A series of misleading events

momentarily caused premature celebrations from the crowd as the Warriors vied for the last winning point. The disc was caught at the Warriors end-zone, and the crowd flocked the field in mistaken jubilation only to find out that the play was called a foul. The Eagles made a last ditch effort to snatch victory by scoring twice but the Warriors finally sealed victory,ending the game, 15-11. Warriors’ Team Captain Jacqueline Sheena Jumuad shares that the team is more than willing to claim victory once again. “Gina-hold gyud namo ang title nga back-to-back gyud mi this year,” she shares. Jumuad also boasts of the squad’s complete attendance during practices, unlike those of last year. On the other hand, the CompStud Wizards, who placed fourth last year, rose to the third spot this season, winning against the Aggie Bulls, 13-5.C

Eagles ascend as back-to-back champions in women’s football By Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera

IN CONTROL. Seeing an open teammate, SBM’s Stephanie Arsenio motions for a pass moments before Aggie defenders swarm her.

eizing their second-straight championship title, the Eagles scored the lone goal against the Bulls at the XU Field on September 19. The gloomy afternoon starkly contrasted with the clash of talons and horns, as Aggies pulled off an early offensive against SBM. However, their efforts proved futile as the Eagles defensive set up was enough to hold the Bulls at bay. Both sides struggled despite getting off several attempts, with nothing Crusader

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[J. RACAZA]

getting past the goal line. In the middle of the first half, however, the birds of prey mounted a successful attack, where Lady Eagle Cristina Pfyl scored a goal, putting the Bulls at a disadvantage. Things started to get difficult as both teams faced a sudden downpour in the second half. Unfazed by the rain, the Eagles continued to soar, holding on to their lead as the Bulls started their onslaught again. The ensuing scenes were

painted with splashes of mud and water as the rain started to pour stronger. The Eagles employed a robust defensive style of play early on the second half, which was focused not on scoring a goal but on preventing the enemy from doing just that. And prevent the enemy they did, as the goal continued to elude the Bulls despite their advances. The final whistle capped off the Eagles victory, sending the cattle back to their pens.C www.thecrusaderpublication.com

Sports

Aggie Bulls outrun competition in athletics By Kevin Paul P. Mabul

fter a series of recurring wins and a close battle between three colleges, the Aggie Bulls emerged triumphant with a total score of 59 points from four golds and two silvers spread across the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m relay events held on September 19 at the XU Field. Trailing at second and third place are SOE Phoenixes and ArtScies Tigers with 49 and 46.5 points, respectively. For the 100m dash, Tiger Yuhei Go finished first at 8.96 seconds, with Bull Karl Abunda coming in second at 9.54 seconds, and Phoenix Jonathan Luna in third at 10.37 seconds. Meanwhile, Artscies’ Alexa Ebarle led the women’s division with a 10.93 second-tally, followed by Phoenix Nelbei Saberola’s 11.61 seconds, and Warrior Valerie Arinze’s 12.11. While the Tigers dominated the first sprints, the Bulls retaliated in both the men’s and women’s 200m categories. Bull Andrey Ardo led the charge at 15.03 seconds, Tiger Wellmax Sario recorded 16.27 seconds, and Wizard Reginald Lee took 16.84 seconds to finish the track. For the women’s division, Bull Kim Sotelo took first place at 19.50 seconds, with Phoenix Regina Huerbana following closely and finishing second, a mere 36 nanoseconds later. Python Chabell Princess Abellana placed third at 20.57 seconds. The 400m events saw a similar duopoly by the Agriculture and Education colleges.

PASSING IT ON. Relay athletes race for the finish as the batons reach the next runner.

Aggie Bulls seized the top spots for the men’s 400m dash and 4x100m relay, while the SOE Phoenixes ruled the women’s divisions in the same events. Aggie’s Anthony del Rosario finished first on the 400m dash at 32.46 seconds, shadowed by Tiger Moses Medillo’s 33.26 seconds and Phoenix Alec Labuntog’s tally only 67 nanoseconds later than Medillo’s. For the 4x100m team relay events, the Bulls were followed by the Warriors and the

[D. GULTIANO]

Knights with tallies of 32.46, 33.65, and 34.77 seconds, respectively. For the women’s 400m dash, Phoenix Rosette Paderanga grabbed first place at 42.25 seconds, with Bull Aleah Acebedo on second at 44.82 seconds and Warrior Stephanie Secero on third at 46.04 seconds. The 4x100m team relay events saw the Phoenixes at the top, Warriors at second, and Tigers at third with 37.48, 38.78, and 42.11 seconds, respectively.C

Warriors burn Phoenixes after first quarter, conquer women’s hoops By Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita

aking up for placing third last year, the Warriors showed their hunger for gold during the championship game at the XU Gym on September 19, crippling the mythical birds before their feet could even leave the ground. The first quarter started with each team’s star players—Alyzza Macalos of SOE and Kathy Paguican of Engineering—shooting two-point baskets for their teams. After answering each other’s shots, the quarter finally ended with a measly difference of two, 11-9, in favor of SOE. Despite the slight difference, the Warriors 10

knew they had to find a way to cripple SOE’s offense which was largely led by Macalos. However, Macalos was still able to drain a pair from downtown during the second quarter to the delight of the crowd of educators. This, however, was no match for the Warriors who didn’t depend on one person shooting clean, point-blank baskets. Along with Czarina Casirayan, Julien Cozo, and Syarmane Fuentes, Paguican was able to turn the tables and the first half ended with a nine-point edge for Engineering, 27 – 18. During the third quarter, the Warriors’ defense eventually locked down on the blue

birds, leaving free throws as the only possible way to bolster the Phoenixes’ output. Controlling the game from that point onwards, the Warriors ended the championship game with a bang, 52-38. According to Warriors Coach Kim Alia, their formula to success includes simple things such as teamwork, conditioning, and confidence. Alia also believes in the power of executing a great defense. On the other hand, the ArtScies Tigers, former champs back in 2012, were able to partially relive their glory days as they settled for third place this year.C Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Sports

Warriors prick Bulls, emerge champions in men’s volleyball, 3-1 By Merryane Rose S. Bacud

SQUARE OFF. Fighters exchange blows as they fight their way to the top.

[D. GULTIANO]

Warriors reclaim karate-do dominance By Raizah L. Bagul

massing a whooping 88.5-point overall tally, the Engineering Warriors yet again took the top spot in karate-do on September 15 at the XU Covered Courts. The tribe acquired 48.5 points in the men’s category and 40 points in the women’s. Their skills were unmatched as evidenced by the horde of medals: five golds from three categories: -70 individual kumite men, -53 and -55 individual kumite women, and team kumite men and women. Aside from taking home three silver medals in individual kata men and -55 and -65 individual kumite men, they also snatched one bronze in team kata men. In the men’s category, the Warriors placed silver in the individual kata, the gold medalist being Python Niño Halibas. Engineering was quick to take back their dominance in the -70 kgs individual kumite men with Lemuel Lonio placing first. They also finished silver in the -55 kgs and -65 kgs individual kumite men, represented by CJ Cruz and Daniel Lim respectively. Meanwhile, two Eagles secured Crusader

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the gold in -55 and -60 kgs individual kumite men. In the women’s category, the Warriors grabbed the gold medals in the -53 and -55 kgs individual kumite. However, Nursing’s Ruxil Bagares snatched the gold in the individual kata women, with the silver snagged by the Phoenixes and the bronze by the Bulls. The Warriors stood their ground in the team kumite category, securing gold in both men and women. On the other hand, the Tigers and Pythons took the top spot in team kata men and women, in that order. Although the Tigers and Pythons threatened to challenge the Warriors dominance in the women’s division with 75.5 and 72-point tallies respectively, the Warriors eventually saw themselves through. The Tigers, despite the lone gold medal, were able to place as second in the overall courtesy of four silvers and six bronzes. The Pythons slithered behind the big cat, impressively scoring five golds, but garnering only one silver and bronze medal.C

pears locked with horns at the XU Gymnasium, and the dauntless tribe stood over the Bulls by the end of the men’s volleyball championship match on September 19. The Warriors subdued the Bulls in the first set by making sound decisions in their ball placement, keeping the Aggies defense on their toes for the majority of the set, eventually claiming the opener, 25-20. Shawn Tabaco, team captain of Aggie Bulls, stepped up his game and unleashed three powerful spikes on the Warriors to close out a 19-25 second set victory for Aggies, forcing a deadlock at one set apiece. The Warriors were quick to respond, overpowering the Bulls’ offense in the third set. Middle blocker John Gutierrez showed his overall versatility, with two spikes to go along with a block, and Warriors Captain Jayle Antiga showed much of the same flexibility as did Gutierrez with three emphatic spikes, and a pair of blocks. Finally, Joshua Bacud secured the third set for the Maroon shirts, 25-19. With the intensity building up in the fourth, the tension in the place grew ever more palpable, and the Gym was filled with cheers and shouts from both teams’ supporters as combination plays from Warrior libero Samuel Miñoza raised their confidence even more. The Bulls tried to prolong the game by at least another set – making for an intense contest in the third. Tabaco’s brilliant serving led to four straight points for Aggies to tie the game at 24 a piece – squandering what could have been three match points for Engineering. Unfortunately, his fifth serve had too much power behind it, returning a match point to the Warriors. The set didn’t end there, as Aggies tried to hold on further, but Engineering ground out a 28-27 win– seemingly out of sheer will – to complete the 3-1 final tally. According to Engineering Coach Jerald Jake Dalde, the camaraderie and teamwork that they developed after two years of being together has been of big help.“Perseverance [also helped], kay kung pangit ang receive sa libero, pangit sad ang set dayun dili maka block ug sakto,” he shares.C www.thecrusaderpublication.com

By Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera, Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas,,Lorenzo A. Botavara, & Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita

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Full scale attack “So basically to win the overall champion, individual sports man gyud na siya ang maka-garner [ug points] because although ten points ang maximum, times how many players man gyud na siya so dako kaayo [ang] makuha,” explains Jeun. The Warriors are known for reaping gold in individual events, especially swimming. This time, however, the Warriors not only conquered the individual sports but also ruled over the major ones, collecting at least bronzes and silvers if not gold. “This year murag shockingly naka-sulod mig daghan sa atong mga team sports, which also helps [sic] us garner the top spot,” she adds. Jeun explains that it has been different for the athletes because “grabe na ilang practices this year compared to last year and ang kakulba nawala.” Another factor that propelled them to the top was that they learned not to pressure their athletes and allowed them to just enjoy the game. New long reign The Warriors are positive that this year’s victory is the affirmation of the College of Engineering’s supremacy. “Starting last year kay murag reign gyud siya sa Warriors nga contest, nga ma-take gyud ang overall,” Jeun remarks. She expresses confidence that the next ACES administration could keep up with the demands of defending the throne. She also notes that the next batch of officers has already learned so much from this year’s intrams, somehow making it easy for the college to sustain its dominion. “I think next year kaya gyud na nila, dapat gyud na nila i-defend,” adds Jeun. *** With the runners-up hungry to oust the leader, the Warriors will have to double their efforts in defending their throne. Challengers, optimistic enough to think of themselves as streak breakers, will try to put an end to Engineering’s supremacy, maybe even form alliances to prevent the fulfillment of a three-peat. Dethroning the champs will never be easy though, for eliminating a Warrior means facing not only his wrath, but that of his entire Tribe’s. C

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Design by Jericho B. Montellano

Mapping the assault Claiming victory is not an easy feat, even for backto-back champions. Having a stake at the throne required tedious preparations and a proper execution of plans. For Assistant Sports Committee Head Vaughne Dagaraga, this meant addressing the concerns and needs of the teams through a sit-down meeting with the captains. A common problem that was raised in the meeting was the insufficient funding for each team. Team captains wanted to request an increase in the budget so the athletes can be adequately provided for by the college. This major point of concern, however, was solved after Dagaraga and Jeun campaigned for the increase in the budget allocation for the Intramurals. “Nakakuha jud mi’g larger money kaysa sa una,” Dagaraga enthuses. This budget allocation is distributed evenly among the teams under the College of Engineering. A budget of Php 550 is reserved for each player, which will be used mainly for the athletes’ uniforms. The Cheer Warriors squad, however, holds a larger budget compared to the other teams because of their full-body costumes and shoes. “Pero limited pud [ang budget] para fair pud sa uban athletes. Fair gyud ang hati-an samoney sa mga athletes,” emphasizes Jeun. Although budget was no longer a problem, the teams faced another concern when provisions arrived late. There were some incidents when games were already ongoing but supplies such as water have not been provided by the Sports Committee. Faults in staff management also served to be another challenge they had to overcome. Despite all these trials, the Tribe still led a headstrong charge by keeping a united front. Athletes didn’t face their battles alone, as Sports Committee staff and ACES officers went to the sports venues as early as 5:30 am to support their fellow Warriors. “Among plano with the council kay

i-spoil gyud ang mga athletes [during] intrams week kay murag sila among breadwinner,” Jeun says.

Illustration by Rico M. Magallona

hey had to break two streaks to mount a repeat of their own, but that doesn’t make the victory any less sweet for the College of Engineering Warriors. Finally molting away what the other colleges had come to label the maroon tribe with: “Always the streak breaker, never the peat maker.” They can burn those labels now, to fuel their commemorative bonfire to celebrate their victory. “Mag celebrate mi mga Warriors sa among championship. Karon kay gapaningil na ang mga people og victory party,” shares Association of the College of Engineering Students (ACES) President Kesha Jeun. With the drive to prove their detractors wrong, the Warriors went into battle and did so in dominating fashion, brandishing the proud maroon banner with every lopsided victory and nail-biting contest. What stood out the most for the tribe was their untiring support, living up to their revised slogan of being One Tribe and One Family.

Design by Keith Obed J. Ruiz

*Final scores may vary due to the addition of points from the delayed SBM vs. Aggies football match.

Sports

Eagles, Tigers claim territory over table tennis finals By Andrew Rey L. del Fierro

he SBM Eagles and the ArtScies Tigers established their respective domains over the various divisions in the table tennis tournament held on September 16-17 at XU Covered Courts, with the Eagles claiming gold in the team event (men) and men’s singles, and the Tigers claiming gold in the team event (women) and women’s singles divisions. The two top predators were tailed by the Bulls, who claimed gold in men’s doubles, and the Wolves who dominated the women’s doubles. The team event, which combines singles and doubles games, featured a fierce competition from all colleges, with the Tigers reclaiming last year’s championship spot from the Wolves in the women’s division, displacing the Wolves to second. The Warriors weren’t to be outpaced, however, as they defeated the Phoenixes and placed third. In the men’s division, an unprecedented

win against the Warriors catapulted the Eagles to the top, soaring to first place with the efforts of team captain Lito Baylosis, Ryan Bugas, Rhoy Corbeta and Sean Llenos. The Tigers then defeated the CIT Knights and took third. In the men’s and women’s singles division, the Eagles and the Tigers quickly edged out the once- SERVED. Moments before a table tennis player ferocious first strike. [J. PATANA] dominating Wolves in both competitions, with the respectively. In the men’s division, the Bulls Eagles placing first in the men’s division and beat out the Warriors in the finals, followed by Tigers becoming champions of the women’s the Eagles in third place. division. Third place was assumed by Law The women’s division, on the other and SBM in the men’s and women’s divisions, hand, showcased ferocious matches, with respectively. Wolves Caryl Joyce Carpio and Maria Luisa Proving themselves not to be easy prey, the Buot hunting down their Tiger rivals and Bulls and the Wolves assumed their dominance assuming first, and the Warriors having to over the men’s and women’s doubles, settle for third.C

Eagles pin down lady Bulls in women’s volleyball By Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes

aving won first place back in 2013 but falling back to third last year, the lady Eagles finally reclaimed the hotly contested championship crown after soaring over the lady Bulls, 3-0, in the women’s volleyball championship game on September 19 at the XU Gym. The Bulls sought to establish a rhythm from the get-go, deceiving the Eagles defense with tricky ball placements. This, however, did not seem to make much of a difference as the Eagles were quick to regain the lead. With strong defense and surefire spikes from lady Eagles Humae Villagomesa and Nicole Areola, the yellow squad gained a 5-point cushion, 16-11. The Bulls, unable to impede the string of hits from the Eagles, dropped the first set to the Eagles, 25-17. Eager to redeem themselves, the Bulls stepped up their game and again led to start the second set. The gym was filled with excitement and restlessness as the crowd

the offensively superior Eagles. With a more coordinated, and steady approach, the Bulls coaxed the score to a tie, 9-9. The Eagles gained footing, but the Bulls were quick to recuperate this time with tension building among the crowd as the scoreboard saw several ties and lead changes in RIGHT BACK AT YOU. Lady Eagle singly blocks an Aggie hit. the third set. Close as they [J. MEJICA] were to stealing a set from witnessed a rally that lasted well above a SBM, the Bulls eventually minute that ended in an Aggie net violation. succumbed to an Eagle offense which After a series of failed attempts to counter proved uncontainable, even for the nevertheir opponent’s strong offense, the Bulls say-die Bulls. lost the second set to the soaring Eagles, 25Meanwhile, the Artscies Tigers, champion 19. in last year’s women’s volleyball, landed only The third set was a demonstration of third this year after winning the earlier match the Bulls’ fortitude, grappling to surpass against the Engineering Warriors.C

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Sports

Warriors, Tigers haul stream of medals in Swimming By Alexa Kim K. Bacong

he Engineering Warriors laid waste on their adversaries, proving themselves capable of aquatic combat and giving the waters a maroon tinge in the end. Dominating the swimming events at Pelaez Sports Complex on September 16, the Warriors, led by Micah Salilig, took home 10 golds, three silvers, and two bronzes, enroute to an overall champion finish. The tribe established dominance in the Women’s Division which Salilig considers their source of strength. According to her, the key factor for their successive triumphs is each one’s perseverance. “Bahalag unsa ka heavy ang work-out, they always do it,” she shares. Annabelle Torres, one of the team’s best players, tallied less than 1.11 minutes at the 100m freestyle event. Likewise, the competition concluded with a 4x50 freestyle relay finished by the Lady Warriors in 2.45 minutes. Salilig emphasizes that although there are strong male swimmers from the opposing colleges, the Warriors’ even distribution of players has helped them reap success. “We are so happy that halos half pud nga points [ang] amoang na contribute sa amoang college. Thankful pud mi nga our council is very

ARM’S LENGTH LEAD. Swimmers pierce through the water, gasping for breath and grasping for victory. [K. RUIZ]

supportive of us and gina-take care jud mi nila,” says an elated Salilig. On the other side of the border, the roaring Tigers from the College of Arts and Sciences surged victorious in the Men’s division. “We trained hard for it. We set up our mind with goals of beating our own time and not to dwell with [sic] our opponents,” points out team captain Mark Lorene Gatinao. He mentions that their

line-up has focused more on the relay events. “These events are based on the teamwork and how you handle your teammates well,” he opines. True enough, these ferocious beasts skillfully topped all team events with their camaraderie: the 4x100 medley, 4x50 medley, 4x100m freestyle and 4x50m freestyle relays – all aced in 5.59, 2.33, 5.34, and 2.16 minutes respectively.C

Eagles tower over Warriors, 2-0, in Sepak Takraw By Raizah L. Bagul

aking a comeback after settling for first runner-up last year, the SBM Eagles finally grabbed the much-coveted gold medal after trampling the Engineering Warriors in straight sets, 2-0, at the XU Covered Courts on September 17. The Eagles’ effort as a team, coupled with the players almost mirroring one another’s rhythms, was not an easy obstacle for the Warriors to overcome. The Eagles built a seven-point lead to start the first set. Despite the Warriors’ efforts to keep up and close the gap, the first set ended with 21-12, in favor of SBM. The Warriors strived to force a third set but things went no better in the second set as they did in the first; the Eagles built an eightpoint cushion early in the set. Try as they Crusader

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might, Engineering could not keep up with the pace with which the Eagles structured their offense. The set ended quickly enough with the Eagles on top, 21-14. Sepak Takraw Coach Danilo Jimenez already knew that the Eagles would win. “Bali ang SBM man gud kay duna sila na’y spiker, plus naka-dominate sila’g tekong. I-compare nimo sa lain nga mga teams, which is dili kumpleto ilang setup. Sa tanan team sila ra’y makabuhat niana. Mudaog gyud sila,” he shares. Meanwhile, the bronze medal match was a more heated duel between the Aggie Bulls and Medicine Wolves which ended with a 2-1 tally. Both teams split the first two sets by the minimum two-point margin, but the Bulls finally pulled away in the deciding set, 21-10.C

FOLLOW THROUGH. Eagle tekong hits a higharching service during the finals match. [J. PATANA]

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Sports

SWAY. Wizards waltz through the competition with dazzling outfits and mesmerizing movements.

[N. AQUINO]

Phoenixes sway to the top, dominate dance sport contest By Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas

n a whirl of swooshing dresses and glittery adornments, participating pairs graced the dance floor at the XU Covered Courts for the annual dance sport competition on September 19. A dozen pairs from the various colleges showcased their talents in Chacha, Rumba, Jive, Modern Standard, and Latin to win the coveted crown. Although each college is recommended to have at least one participating pair, the School of Education (SOE), College of Nursing, College of Engineering, and

School of Business and Management (SBM) opted to include two pairs to represent their colleges. Meanwhile, the College of Law and School of Medicine, meanwhile, did not have a participating pair. Previously, the competition was divided into two categories: the Latin and Modern Standard categories. However, this year, the aforementioned categories have been removed. Instead, three winners will be chosen from various dance genres to be the overall winners of the competition.

Among the 12 contenders, the Phoenixes dominated the dance floor with their swift twirls and passionate moves in Latin, as both pairs nabbed the top spots in the competition. Education’s Jaco Apas and Ena Exclamado were met by a roaring crowd upon their graceful execution of Latin, easily soaring to first place. Jayson Jandayan and Carmela Hamodiong, the other representative pair of SOE, closely followed their allies in second place, while Wizards Neil Jordan Paña and Aubrey Adrian Lustado won third place.C

Eagles dominate badminton, snatch back gold from Warriors

By Andrew Rey L. del Fierro

hough the Warriors are this year’s overall champions, they were ousted by the mighty Eagles at the XU Covered Courts during the badminton finals held on September 13-14. The Eagles seized gold in the men’s singles and doubles, as well as the mixed doubles divisions. The Wolves and Warriors, however, continued in hot pursuit, winning the women’s singles and women’s doubles respectively. The Eagles began establishing their dominance in the singles division with the consistent performance of veteran player 18

Stanford Siy, winning almost every game in the elimination rounds before finally facing off Tiger Noel Ruita in what he calls was an ‘exhausting’ match. Nevertheless, the Eagle persevered and managed to win two consecutive sets. Meanwhile, the Warriors claimed the spot for third. Wolf Arianne Claire Alvarez was also making waves in the competition by winning every match in the elimination round, before concluding with her own two-set win against SOE. The lady Warriors lagged behind in third, managing to win by default against the

lady Eagles due to an unfortunate injury. The Eagles also secured their second gold in the men’s doubles division, narrowly losing the first set 20-22 to the Phoenixes before finally overtaking them 21-10 and 2114 in the next two sets. The Warriors, not to be outperformed, also held their own against the Wolves and took third. In women’s doubles, the Warriors took center stage once again, battling heatedly for the gold in the first set with a score of 24-22 until the lady Warriors outpaced the Wolves in the second set, 21-15, while the Eagles claimed third.C

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Sports

For mixed doubles, the Eagles and the Warriors squared off in what could be called a duel for dominance—a struggle that would determine whether the former champion Engineering would concede a medal to SBM and secure their reign, or meet them equally, two gold medals to two. The first match started off in favor of the Eagles, easily outdoing their opponents with a set score of 21-13. The Warriors, determined to fight back, gained the upper hand in the start of the second set, bolstered by the cheers of their college. However, the Eagles remained steady, riding the slipstream of their rivals’ movements and managing to catch up 16-16 before overtaking them, ending the match 21-17. Meanwhile, the Tigers secured third, winning against the Wolves, 35-16.C

YOUR SHOT. Lady Eagle watches her partner return a well-placed drop.

[N. AQUINO]

Eagles upset Warriors with balanced scoring, 72-61 By Lorenzo A. Botavara

COLLAPSE ON THE DRIVER. Surrounded by maroon jerseys, Eagle forces up a floater over a defender’s outstretched arms. [J. MEJICA]

ntering the men’s basketball finals against Engineering, the Eagles assumed the role of underdog for the second straight game. Their feathers weren’t ruffled at the prospect of facing a more capable opponent again; they knew the drill well. Four Eagles scored in double digits, and Crusader

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Engineering’s cold first half aided a 72-61 victory for the Yellow Army on September 19 at XU Gym – the title which had eluded them for years is now safely clutched in their talons again. The Eagles broke away from the opposition by scoring 16 unanswered points to end the first period. For the Warriors, it was not for a

lack of offensive execution – ball movement was fluid and passes led to high-percentage attempts. However, despite numerous attempts, they just couldn’t put the ball in the rim. The Warriors again went cold to close the half as SBM distributed the leather evenly among themselves while their opponents were desperately trying to stop the onslaught. By halftime, the Warriors’ output was a mere half of that of the Eagles’, 34-17. Engineering’s high-percentage shots were finally falling in the third, the place coming alive again with chants from their tribe. In an eventful fourth quarter, the Warriors backcourt willed their team back into the ballgame with hustle play after hustle play, bringing them to within seven points at the closest, 66-59 with around 90 seconds left to play. At this juncture, Engineering played the foul game, gambling on SBM to miss their free throws. Eagle guard Sean Kalinawan had other plans, however, as he casually sank all four of his free throws in the final minute, sealing the game for the Eagles. “Everytime I shoot the ball in the free throw line especially in crunch time, I do it for the team and for the whole SBM family,” remarks Kalinawan. The ArtScies Tigers, who pulled a three-peat win in men’s basketball last season, settled for bronze this year.C

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Feature

By Harmony Kristel D. Balino

uess what? It’s the most awaited NBA finals! Rocky couldn’t help but be excited as he waits for his father at the XU Grade School Macasandig Campus. He was going to witness Magic Johnson and Larry Bird clash before his very eyes and the best part is: he was going with his dad-slash-municipal-mayor. He was proud that, despite the busy schedule, his father would travel to the city to watch basketball with him. They would walk to Ororama Center after his class to

watch the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics in big screen. “Ang gadala gyud ug inspirasyon sa akoa [kay] e-dala gyud ko sa akong papa, mag bond mi together [bisag] busy siya [sa] pagka-mayor,” shares Paul Douglas “Rocky” Calingin, the returning coach of the Crusaders Basketball Men. From the hard court to the municipal hall

As a kid, Coach Rocky has already displayed interest in basketball, which led him to become one of the Musketeers,

XUGS’s basketball varsity team. Even in his high school years, Calingin continued to show skill in the sport, becoming the team captain and point guard for their basketball team during intramurals. He transferred to Cagayan Capitol College (now Capitol University) and was even directly accepted as a college varsity player. At age 22, Calingin followed the footsteps of his father to become the municipal mayor of Claveria, Misamis Oriental. But his heart never left basketball as he conforms to public

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Feature

Water and fire

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What goes around comes around

Calingin left the Crusaders in 2010 to attend to his family company in Claveria, handling a Robusta Coffee plantation. This left Martinez, who was also the College Athletics Coordinator, to fill in for the spot for four years. However, new school regulations prevented University employees to take on double roles. So, Calingin was reeled back in to become head coach again. Fire returns, all but frustrated with the absence of the Water. “In the last four years, klaro kaayo na wala ko sa iya, naa’y iyang kulang. Which ako pud nabati karon in the last [months] na wala siya…We need each other ba.” Old job, new challenges

One of the challenges that Calingin faces today is the team’s sustainability. “Fifty percent ani [bag-o], ang napulo pud nga daan kay

duha ra mabilin next year kay mang graduate na pud ang walo,” he explains. Looming budget cuts also pose a problem as the University transitions to the K-12 system. A decrease in budget would mean less spending for the athletes’ scholarships, equipment and facilities. However, Calingin hopes that members of the XU community, especially the alumni, could provide funding in one way or another. “Wala man gyud koy lain makita na makatabang kay at the end of the day, when you put up a team, just like before, among nahimo kay naa man gyuy financial side na malambigot,” he adds. Calingin also points out that all this support would pay off because it would bring glory to the University. “Kinahanglan gyud ma supportahan gyud ang team kay kinahanglan ma hatag ang pride and glory sa Xavier University sa basketball,” he notes. *** Coach Rocky admits he is strict, as he was raised in a strict family. For now, he is still adjusting from being a mayor to being an employee, more so, a basketball coach. He also tries to break away from the political mindset that was instilled in him. Still, his leadership background comes in handy. “I want to be that leader na maka motivate and inspire ani na mga bata sa field sa basketball.”C

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Photo by Jigo L. Racaza

A year after he started as head coach, the XU Crusaders won against Ateneo de Manila University’s Blue Eagles in the 2008 Jesuit Invitational Games. “The only [record] in the history, nanapildi ang Ateneo de Manila [sa Crusaders]. First and only, dani to nahitabo sa Xavier Gym,” Calingin proudly says. According to him, this wasn’t possible without Arvin Martinez, the assistant coach at that time. He and Martinez worked with synergy, almost as if both of them are head coach, and as Calingin describes: the “Perfect Pair”. Calingin explains that his forte is in strategy, gameplay, and opponent strategy offense while Martinez’s is in training,

particular details, and defense. That was why he called himself as the “Fire” while Martinez is the “Water”. “Ako ang bukal ug siya ang hilom. Kanang makita jud nimo na combination ba na kalayo og tubig. Kung kinahanglan nimo ang kalayo, naa’y mahimo na fire sa team... Kung sa pagpabugnaw, naa sad si Coach Arvin, so gwapo jud na combination,” Calingin explains.

Design by Keith Obed Ruiz

service. Two terms after, he met Gerardo Sabal, that time’s XU Athletics Director. Sabal saw more potential in him than just a political icon. The door to hold his third term as mayor closed, but the window for basketball opened wider as he was offered the job as head coach to the University’s basketball team. It was also a win-win situation for Calingin as he won the job of fostering his love for basketball and at the same time, the love of his life is teaching just at the SBM Department.

By Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita

Design by Ben Clark B. Balase

hat do you get when you combine skillful veterans and capable recruits? A new and improved Crusaders women’s football team. Under the supervision of Coach Don Derick Deriquito, the varsity team is slowly gaining recognition not only in Cagayan de Oro but throughout Mindanao. Easily carrying out routines that could dishearten a normal footballer, these ladies have become tough enough to compete in any tournament, be it in or out of the city. Starting fresh Team Captain Mikhaela Adrienne Nota is more than happy with their new coach and new practice routine. “Honestly, I find it better than before because we have our own separate training schedule with [sic] the men's team,” she shares. Their trainings on Tuesdays and Thursdays run from 5:30 to 8 am. Saturday trainings, on the other hand, begin at 3 pm and lasts for about two and a half hours. During these trainings, Deriquito emphasizes discipline and promptness; absentees and latecomers are usually punished. “We have to run around the entire field until we reach our quorum,” Nota shares. The ladies are still well taken care of though, as Deriquito makes up for the harsh training by treating them for breakfast. Applying the cliché “No pain, no gain”, all the sprained muscles from training seem to be paying off, as the team has been constant gold-baggers in various tournaments. Aside from participating

in women’s open competitions, the team came home as champions for the 3rd SM Street Soccer Festival last May and the Mindanao1Futbol 7v7 Festival. It is, in the words of their dedicated captain, “a pretty good start for a team consisting of fresh faces”. Immense improvements According to Nota, the improvement of the team’s performance this year is partly due to the recruitment of talented, new members. “Although our new players are currently on their first year in the team, all of them are already well-trained as they came from schools with a football or futsal program,” says Nota. True enough, some of them were even able to participate in the UAAP, such as April Grace Borja, who transferred from Far Eastern University (FEU). Nota also takes pride in the camaraderie and teamwork that they have quickly achieved. “Even with the short time we've been together, you can really see that there isn't much individualism since we really work as a team,” she shares. In addition to camaraderie and teamwork, team striker Libby Lou Namoc thinks it is their dedication that differentiates them from other women’s football teams. “Gina-enjoy lang namo ang game and at the same time puso gyud kaayo mi mag-play, ginahatag gyud namo among best sa game… we fight a good fight!” she exclaims.

Goal-oriented girls Winning competitions is a goal commonly shared by all sports teams. However, the Lady Crusaders, aside from participating in tournaments, also dreams of organizing their very own football tournament in the University. “Our other goal would also be to host competitions at our own field for fundraising and in order to promote the team and to promote our beloved sport,” explains Nota. But perhaps the greatest goal of the Lady Crusaders this year is to extend their influence beyond Mindanao. Nota is positive that she and her team will be able to achieve this. “We'll train our hearts out to be at par with those collegiate teams in Luzon, so once other teams will hear or see the Lady Crusaders competing, all other teams will know that their opponent is a force to be reckoned with,” she gleefully remarks.

*** Possessing the right amount of talent and confidence, the Lady Crusaders are sure in the list of football teams to watch out for. With the guidance of Deriquito and the help of each other, it will not be long before they begin realizing their greatest aim, playing neck and neck matches with Luzon-based teams and at the same time promoting the love for football.C

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Design by Jigo L. Racaza

Photos by Jaymar Patana, Jigo Racaza, Alvin Paul Yao, Ian Bicar, and Dave Gultiano

Andrey Ardo, Athletics Men As an Aggie athlete, Andrei treats the finish line like a cloth draped in red as he charges for it with immeasurable vigor, leaving the opposition to eat his dust. According to him, his desire to win is fueled by his tendency to always strive hard. “Gusto pud ko na mahatagan ug honor akong college,” he says. He has been in the sport since gradeschool and has equipped himself, through the years, with loads of techniques in preparation for competitions such as the Intramurals. “I come to the point nga mag sacrifice gyud ko sa akoang daily schedule para mag train,” he shares.C Lyrashane Batao, Lawn Tennis Women Lyra would bleed balls and racquets. Coming from a lineage of tennis players, she has lawn tennis infused in her veins. Unsurprisingly, she started to love the sport when she was still in the fourth grade. Not only does she see it as a hobby but she also enjoys the friendship that it brings – meeting her closest friends during inter-school matches such as the Palarong Pambansa. Although she brands her own playing style as “erratic”, this feisty petite performs with a combination of flair and fortitude in the court. Lyra makes sure that when she plays, she always comes with the right attitude, a persistent mindset, and a tough heart.C

STAND OUTS Sean Llenos, Table Tennis Men This isn’t Sean’s first time to be listed in TheCrusader standout roster. This year, however, he returns bearing the pride of his entire team – composed of captain Lito Baylosis, Ryan Bugas, and Rhoy Corbeta – that dominated the Team Event (Men’s Division) of the table tennis tournament. A business administration sophomore and table tennis player since Grade 4, Sean emphasizes that he was only a part of a squad that made attaining the championship possible. A cautious but determined approach is maintained by the entire team, and as Sean expresses: “If gusto ka, you have to keep chasing it.” C

Jerfy Valdon Berro, Softball Men Dan Jegger Soria, Taekwondo Men “Wala ko ni-apil ani na sport kay gusto ko ma-ingani. Akong apas sa una kay kanang sa away sa gawas bitaw, makabalos ka,” admits Dan, a junior Mechanical Engineering student and a current black belt. However, time passed by and Dan grew a greater love for taekwondo when he saw it for what it really is: an art that places discipline above all and violence only as a last resort. Around nine years he has kept at it, competing in various national events. Despite match-related injuries, he continued to pursue his taekwondo ambitions with his coach’s words in tow: “Stop dreaming, start working.” C

Being both the defensive savant and vocal leader that he is, the Warriors owe their championship run in large part to their stalwart, versatile shortstop – which he considers the “most demanding defensive position in the game”. The fact that a championship had been eluding Jerfy for four years as a Warrior makes the victory all the more sweet for the graduating Mechanical Engineering student, whose strength in turn takes root in the support of his girlfriend and teammates. “Grabe ka-fulfilling kay na-tupad ra jud ang akong pangandoy na makatilaw og championship ayha maka-graduate. And tungod pud ni sa ako team and kang Coach Makoy,” he gleefully shares.C

Alyzza Drawde Mae Macalos, Basketball Women Apparently, eight years of practice, combined with raw talent, is what it takes to produce a player like Alyzza. Originally a volleyball player, she served as the Phoenixes’ saving grace during the final match against Warriors, scoring 32 points out of the team’s 38-point output. Living near a basketball court proved extremely advantageous for her since she gets to practice whenever she wants to. Of course, the support of the School of Education has also helped her in striving to be on top. But above all, she considers her beloved daughter, who even cheers for her, as her primary source of inspiration.C

Sean Sander Kalinawan, Basketball Men Calm as still water, Sean sank four free throws in crunch time that helped ice the game against Engineering. Vocal as an offensive orchestrator should be, he is the team’s mediator and tempo-controller, and has served as the anchor of SBM’s balanced attack. His playstyle mirrors that of Tony Parker, with drives and teardrops that are nightmares for even the greatest of centers. However, it is his calmness that separates him from most backcourt players. “All I think about is winning; everytime I shoot the ball, I do not entertain pressure,” he says.C

Annabelle Torres, Swimming Women It would be hard for a spectator to ignore Nena during any swimming meet. Nena’s speed and stamina put her in a league above other gold medal competitors. As a triathlete, swimming has become an indispensable part of her daily life. She constantly practices the sport and is in her element when swimming in freestyle. “I can’t imagine my life without it (swimming),” she shares. According to her, the recognition earned during competitions is her greatest motivation.C

Cristina Pfyl, Football Women Growing up in a family who loves football, Cristina learned to play the sport when she was just seven years old. Motivated by her family and friends, she gives her best in every play. This Swiss footballer puts on a calm mindset in every game by thinking of it as mere scrimmage, but performing as if it’s the World Cup. This debonair heroine delivered the winning goal for SBM in the football women’s finals.C

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Excelling in this year's intramurals are the 26 standouts who are examplars of sportsmanship. They proved that aside from talent and passion, humility is the key to acing every game.

Carol Anne Chua, Chess Breaking the gender barrier, Carol Anne Chua, participated in the men’s chess tournament as the team captain placed at board one. Carol has been competing in chess tournaments since sixth grade and used to be part of the University’s Chess Varsity. As a player hungry for thrill and competition, Carol shares that she decided to join this year’s intramurals because she wants to “experience unsa kalingaw ang intrams sa Xavier.” Aside from chess, Carol also played in basketball women’s category this year.C

Kathy Paguican, Softball Women Despite being good at it, Kathy admits that softball wasn’t really her first sport. It only piqued her interest after watching her sisters play. The strength and finesse with which her pitches are thrown is fueled not only by her family’s support but that of the Engineering community’s as well. It is interesting to note that this is Kathy’s third time to be hailed as TheCrusader’s standout. And that pretty much speaks for itself.C

Stanford Siy, Badminton Men Stanford is no stranger to the XU badminton community, especially not to the badminton intramurals tournament. His interest in the sport began around Grade 3—an interest that would quickly mature into dedication in the following years, having trained everyday in the court his father made at their own home. He seems unfazed by his winning gold in the Men’s Singles division, opting to place his love for the sport and the enjoyment he feels from playing with his friends. But don’t let his composed demeanor fool you; in the court, with a racquet in hand and the shuttlecock in his sights, he becomes SBM’s manifest dominance over this year’s badminton competition.C

Arianne Alvarez, Badminton Women Though some are quick to write off the College of Medicine’s performance as a futile effort every intramurals, they would think twice after seeing this lady Wolf bare her fangs. Arianne’s meteoric rise to the top of the Women’s Singles Division in badminton can be credited to her long history with the sport, having held her first racquet as early as Kinder 2. Her experience in badminton competitions includes participating in out-of-city tournaments and even taking part in the Palarong Pambansa. She stresses, however, the importance of balance between sports and academics, noting that ‘studentathletes’ are students first and athletes after. As insightful as she is passionate, she encourages her fellow athletes to showcase their potential and to always remember: “Humility in victory, graciousness in defeat.”C

Photos by Jinky M. Mejica, Dave Gultiano, Jigo Racaza, and Alvin Paul Yao

Timothy Daniel Jayson, Football Men Timothy, a freshman Agriculture student, was noted for his numerous saves and great skills as the Bull’s goalkeeper. With a fearless attitude, he claims to love the thrill of stopping strong shots. One thing that he loves about soccer is that no matter how intense a game may be, it still ends with everyone shaking hands. Among the people that he looks up to are David de Gea, Manchester United’s goal keeper, and his father who taught him to play the sport. “If it weren’t for God, my teammates, and my father, I am nothing!,” he exclaims.C

Rosette Paderanga, Athletics Women Rosette’s repertoire includes the fierceness of a lion and the speed of a cheetah. She is a second year Education student who first set foot on the track as a child. Since then, she has participated in various competitions such as regional meets in high school. Her experiences have molded her to become the disciplined runner that she is today; never in her life had she cheated on trainings or disobeyed her coach. Rosette also believes in submitting everything to God “because siya man jud ang nag-hatag sa ako ug talent, strength, trust sa self, and wisdom.”C

Design by Keith Obed Ruiz and Jon Michael A. Semilla

Mark Lorene Gatinao, Swimming Men Man couldn’t possibly live underwater, but he has spent most of his life in and out of it. Man couldn’t possibly fly like a butterfly, but he sure could swim like one. For Mark, swimming has been a part of him ever since grade school; through the years, he has favored the challenging butterfly stroke. “I have been in the sport for so long and murag na format na nako akong strokes,” he adds. Aside from the motivation he gets from his goals, Maki finds strength in his competitive mindset as a swimmer. “I treat everyday practice as a competition,” he shares.C

Nicole Areola, Volleyball Women Practice and passion – this was the winning formula for rising Eagle Nicole Areola, as she and her team snatched this year’s championship crown in women’s volleyball. Despite being a freshman and a newbie in the team, Nicole stood out in this year’s championship game with her uncontestable powerful spikes and strong hits. Having played volleyball since sixth grade, this girl is so full of potential that she might actually soon be at par with her idol, Alyssa Valdez. Nicole finds inspiration and motivation from her family, friends, fellow Eagles, and most especially from God.C

Aljon Apa-ap, Lawn Tennis Men Aljon has been playing tennis since eight, when his father first introduced him to the sport. As a second year Civil Engineering student, juggling both his studies and the sport proved challenging. However, his passion for tennis is more than enough for him to strike the balance. When asked about what keeps him going during games, he shares about how his family’s support motivates him and how he enjoys every second he spends on-court. For the young tennis wonder, it doesn’t matter if you’re winning or losing. “What’s important is that you enjoyed the game,” he remarks.C

Samuel Jessie Miñoza, Volleyball Men Despite having only three years of training, the libero of the Engineering Warriors managed to pull off a performance that captivated the spectators. Sam first trained for the sport in his senior year in high school, a relatively late-bloomer. The optimism he brings is one of the driving forces behind the Warriors’ championship run. Not many people saw his potential as a freshman but that did not stop him from playing. Instead, Sam was even more willing to learn. “If gusto ka makatuon or mo-excel sa isa ka butang, dapat lang gyud na passionate ka and i-show nimo imong determination,” he states.C

Iona Kae Macarambon, Taekwondo Women Iona Kae, a sophomore Industrial Engineering student and a current black belt traces her love for the sport from her martial artist father who fueled her passion for taekwondo. Her father serves as her inspiration to pursue that which her heart desires. Pursue her desires Iona did, as she has been honing her skills for the past nine years, consistently competing in national events like the Milo Little Olympics and Palarong Pambansa. Iona explains that while she can be a bit anxious before games, those anxieties cease as soon as she gets on the ring, with combination kicks and strategies springing up to mind for out-kicking her opponent – a winning formula indeed.C

Hezra Elvis Retalla, Sepak Takraw Elvis is packed with both brain and brawn. A Dean’s Lister in his first and second years, this senior Accountancy student is as good in sports as he is in his studies, even joining the Palarong Pambansa as a chess athlete. His passion for takraw sprang to life when kids teased his neighborhood for being weak in the game. His efforts paid off, however, as his team is now laying waste to the competition during intramurals. Elvis also admits that while earning medals is fulfilling, there is nothing as important as enjoying a good game.C

Caryl Joyce Carpio , Table Tennis Women Nabbing gold in the Women’s Doubles division in table tennis, this first year medicine student’s debut in the intramural scene is what few attain and many can only aspire to. Experience, combined with her father’s unfaltering support, nurtured her mastery of the sport, leading to her championing of this year’s tournament despite her professed lack of training. The lady Wolf attributes her success to her synergy with her partner and the trust she places in their teamwork as well as in herself. “When you have a goal, just by believing you can reach that goal, you’re already halfway there,” she shares.C

Kathleen Madroño, Chess Women Mesmerized by the knight’s peculiar L-shaped movement, Kathleen Madroño was hooked to chess ever since high school. This interest then grew into competing in chess competitions, interschool tilts, and other tournaments. Moreover, Kathleen was also hailed as a four-year champion in chess women’s category in her undergraduate years. Now that her team has made it to the top, this second year law student commends her colleagues in chess for finding time to practice despite the busy schedule. “Our team spirit never faltered,” she comments.C

Jacqueline Sheena Jumuad, Ultimate After walking away from the playing field a champion again, Sheena takes much pride in the Warriors’ Ultimate team she captains. As a third year Civil Engineering student, she never missed a chance to play for her college – a dedication to the sport she had been cultivating since high school. Seeing the potential she possessed, she was eventually entrusted to lead the Warriors’ Ultimate lineup. Sheena shares that her being a captain entails implementation of discipline within the group but at the same time creating rapport among the team so as to perform well.C

Lemuel Lonio, Karate-do Instead of allowing the fear of letting his teammates down cripple him, Lemuel uses this as his driving force. This third year Civil Engineering student started practicing karate-do when he was in grade school and this year is his second in the intramurals. Lemuel has no staple play style; he adjusts as he faces different opponents, but he is usually defensive and keeps in mind that hits don’t necessarily equate to scores. When asked what makes karate-do memorable, he answers that it was the friendships that he gained. He considers every encounter in the sport worthy of remembrance.C

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

Contribution

By Karl Patrick P. Bontanon

Editor’s note: This is the winning piece of The Xavier Cup 2015 Feature Writing Competition organized by the XU - Central Student Government. It has been edited for the purpose of brevity and coherence.

bout nine in the evening of September 12, the Cheerdance competition was about to end as only two teams were left. It was either the Eagles or the Wizards, with both their squads now on their feet. Cara was not one of the people who danced and flipped midair or the one who pulled a perfect arrow. She’s not even from either college but she had those clappers and her cheeks were painted, too. And with her guess just as good as the next guy’s, the emcee announced, “The last year’s runner-up is tonight’s champion!”; her voice, inaudible as the crowd went wild, shouted for the champs but her heart cheered for every squad. Boom! She won! That’s neither a plot twist nor a typo. For it, too, was her game. In fact, when the winners claimed their prize, she took not the praise but part of the pride that it came along with. When she mixed with the crowd of colors, she saw not the rivalry but unity amidst the diversity. And when the champs raised ‘the Cup’, she felt not the cold competition but the warm spirit of camaraderie. Camaraderie. Unity. Pride. These things— and a whole lot more—make up the very essence of the Xavier CUP 2015. Camaraderie amidst competition “While intramurals is a competition, we do not want to promote it as if it were just all about winning,” says University Athletics Office (UAO) Director Vincent Padilla. He, along with the rest of the organizing committee, believes that instead of being a venue for athletes to unleash their inner LeBrons, the intramurals should be the perfect time for everyone to have fun. “I am also happy and at the same time grateful that the Central Student Government is also doing their share to make intramurals more inclusive by organizing ‘non-athletic’ activities

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such as Trivia Night and Dance Sport,” he adds in appreciation of CSG. With programs outside mainstream sports, the Xavier Cup is able to cater to different types of students, athlete and non-athlete alike. Unity in diversity It is quite unprecedented to find different colleges under one roof outside the Universitywide General Assembly, yet somehow, the Xavier Cup manages to gather diverse groups in quite an unlikely common ground: sports. The reason lies partly on how the Xavier intramurals caters to both sports jocks and fit geeks – on how it connects teams with their fans and players with their followers. The other part rests on how it allows colleges, supporters and cheerers included, to vie against their rivals in a friendly atmosphere. “Olé! Olé! Olé!” chants warrior Pluto Romero with his maroon tribe. “Makaboost na sa ilang confidence na mushoot, mu-kick, or mu-spike. Karon na Xavier Cup, mas motivated ang mga tao. Mas supportive sila sa ilang college kay much is at stake,” he shares. “Ang nakatsada pa gyud

Pride as you wear it, not when you win it Medals and trophies are construed as testaments of success and triumphs, often trivializing the idea of just standing up to the challenge or simply rising to the occasion. Al-Madid Adiong, with nothing but love for the game, religiously trains with his fellow Tigers, court in and out. “Pero okay ra sa ako maskin gamay ko ug playing time. Dili lang akong kaugalingon akong gi-hunahuna. Gusto ko mu daog mi as [a] team, Insha Allah!,” says Adiong. But he doesn’t consider pride as dependent on winning. “Daog or dili, the fact nga imong gisuot ang jersey sa imong college, dapat proud naka.” In the Xavier intramurals, pride comes not from what you win but from what you wear. *** There may only be one cup, but everyone gets to have a sip of the camaraderie, unity, and pride; for the game is not only theirs but yours, too. C

www.thecrusaderpublication.com

Design by Jericho B. Montellano

kay sabay ang pikas fans, dili killjoy, mu-balos pud ug cheer! Magsaba-saba pud. In a way, united mi sa among gabuhaton bisan dili kaila, ang pag-support sa among teams,” speaks another warrior. Banking on what’s common instead of what’s different, Xavier Cup transforms rivalry into unity in diversity.

Lampoon Lampoon

Illustration by Rico M. Magallona

was sweat-drenched and worn-out, with only one minute remaining in the clock. “I worked hard for this, I will not let my efforts go to waste,” I told myself. My heart pounded fast and my mind worked with the speed of The Crusader’s slowmo videos. The clock was ticking and from the looks of it, I was not going to make it in time. Where is that Engineering-versusCIT-like triple overtime when you need it!? Then, the countdown began with only five seconds remaining! “5…” I didn’t know what to do. “4… 3…” I scanned the area, hoping to find help. “2…” Finding none, I ran, leaped, and extended my arms, tossing the thing that I was holding and released into the air with full gusto. Whoosh! The paper landed on the teacher’s desk. I made it! And now, I shall advance to the finals. No, I am not referring to the intramurals finals. In the middle of the intrams week, I was having my semi-final exams. Dreadfully. As the week came into its final days, where colleges fought their championship matches, the sports analyst in me wanted to predict who would be the next overall champion. Alas! Upon much discernment, and a couple of furrowed eyebrows, I still wasn’t able to predict the next champion. What made it difficult was that all the other colleges had absolutely equal opportunity to win the overall championship. It was perfectly logical to pit larger colleges against smaller colleges, no one can argue about that. The

practicalities of manpower and resources just don’t apply when you have the intrams spirit. Being the contemplative person that I am, I continued with my discernment. Conveniently, a retreat was scheduled just when the championship games were ongoing. So I joined the retreat (as if I had a choice). This year’s intramurals is surely not just about sports. Apparently, everybody’s game meant not just honing the students’ physical aspect, but the mental and spiritual attributes as well. Yet, despite the retreat’s predictable modules, I still wasn’t able to predict which college was going to win. My inner sports guru told me to consult the boards at the Magis Canteen. However, as I scanned the boards, a particular inscription at the side struck me. It was written in some sort of MayanIncan-Aztec hieroglyphics, which I easily translated to: “Only the chosen one can see through the magic of these boards and see the actual scores”. That answered why I saw the boards empty. Running out of options, with hope dwindling just as fast, I gave up. I never predicted the College of Engineering to win until it was announced; not even when it was only them who attended the closing ceremony. I guess the other colleges didn’t even bother to attend, taking hint that the second and third placers will not be awarded, just like how bronze and silver medals were not made available to the athletes. Maybe, people were just not there because they were busy studying for out-of-schedule exams. I don’t know. *** I guess my overall intrams experience was okay despite not feeling its hype. I can’t blame anyone for scheduling classes a day before the awarding ceremony. In the first place, the school calendar was made to be disregarded. This brings me to a conclusion that intramurals is just another school week with sports.C

Illustration by Rico M. Magallona

Note: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Everybody’s game, nobody’s watching

Vol. 42 No. 3 October 2015

ANTHRAX

KUniRdeISsscr-kibbulers is

ACROSS 2. Scored the lone goal 4. Gold medalist in Kata Women 5. SBM Sepak Takraw coach 10. Lady Wolf who scores first homerun of Med 14. Former profession of Coach Rocky Calingin 16. Aggie runner in third out 18. Meaning of C in C.U.P. abbreviation 19. Star player of Eng g in women's basketball DOWN 1. Coach in Badminton 3. Bahalag unsa ka heavy ang work-out,they always do it 4. Cheerdancers of the College of Agriculture 6. Player who owns his opponent by 8-3 score in opening match 7. Coach of the Lady Crusaders football team 8. “___ the Assault” 9. Dance sport Champions

20. Silver medalist in men’s 200m category 21. Team striker 22. The last years runner up is tonight's ___

11. Striker who received penalty mark 12. Eagle guard in men s basketball 13. "Everybody's game, nobody's ____" 15 Warriors Ultimate team captain 16 Lady Wolf Player in Table Tennis Doubles 17 Gold medalist in heavyweight men's division

To join: photocopy this Kurisword with your answers and submit your entry to number. Lucky participants will receive limited edition collectables. Crusader

The

Crusader Publication office at StC 302 with your name and contact

The

www.thecrusaderpublication.com

Bro smile! aha imung camera bro?

Brooo

wala bro, gusto ra tika makita musmile

Maypang room suite

pakuratan kaha tika no? Para shokin ka lang mudaog unta ta panalagsa ui dugay ra man ko nimu nadaug bro BRoo

Unsaon pagkalambing kung imung simud kaging

you cant live with love alone, mahal na ang bugas karon.

wala

Pre Kadungog ka atong amang na nidaog?

ayaw ug gawas miga, ting ulan raba. Magbaha unya, makabara ra ka.

Sapaw tag lima aron mudaog tas Chair dance

ni Lynette og Rico. These statements were contributed and overheard from the campus. Some were rephrased for the purpose of clarity and brevity.C

I love you bro

Si crush! hahai sakit jud ning makita siya uban sa lain

Sa panahon karon subject nalay pwede ma balik

Bug-at na kaayo akong gidala-dala nga problema, akong bilbil.

Kung gusto ka musikat well, pag uniform ug washday Di ko plite sa jeep nga ipasa pasa nimo sa lain tao Kadungog ka atong gimurder sa XU?

Katung Educ VS Eng? sa Frisbee?

mao ganing â&#x20AC;&#x153;crushâ&#x20AC;? kay ginadugmok imong feelings

Spark na unta, na short circuit pa gyud.

balde ko, gripo ka. Pag ako napuno, patyon tika ha?

Intellectual ang look, or sa Dungan bisaya pa tiguwang ta tutbras bro tan-awon kay ingon si doc brushing alone is not epektib

pagmahal ka babalikan ka dili oy! Pagmahal ka, di jud tika paliton!

Lingaw kaayong intrams bro!

kay uban man ta bro

broo...