Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu held the annual intramurals, otherwise known as Magis Fest, for senior high school students last October 16 – 19, 2024 with the theme “Champions for Others: Empowering the Youth, Sharing Sustainable Vision, and Realizing Collective Victories with the Communities”. Those four days of grit and determination demonstrated by the students to truly become champions for others was not only admirable, but also unforgettable. With that, here’s the rundown of all sports events held last October 16 of this year’s Magis Fest.
House Loyola triumphed in the female volleyball competition for the mixed category at the Lux Oriens Gym. During the finals, House Loyola showcased their dominance against House Faber, winning decisively by taking the first two sets and securing their position as the overall champions of the female volleyball competition.
In the Female Badminton Singles Finals for Grade 11, House Loyola secured another victory against House Xavier at the Lux Oriens Gym. Xyra Francisco (11-Justitia) emerged victorious against Maria Canete (11-Veritas) in both sets. In the first set, Francisco quickly took the lead, starting at 4-1. She maintained her dominance, extending the score to 14-2. She won decisively with a final score of 21-4 for the first set. Francisco started strong again in the second game, leading 6-2. She continued to extend the lead and eventually won the game decisively, 20-6. Meanwhile, in the Female Badminton Singles Finals for Grade 12, House Xavier gains another win as they triumph over House Loyola at the Lux Oriens Gym. Xavier’s Loreen Blanco (12 – Fortes) won convincingly against Loyola’s Dylan Cedeno (12 – Servire).
House Loyola emerged as champions after a hard-fought game in the Men’s Basketball Mixed Tournament at Magis Fest 2024: Champions for Others, defeating House Xavier in a nail-biting final. The game began with House Xavier establishing an early lead, ending the first quarter up 8-5 over Loyola. Their momentum continued into the second quarter, but Loyola fought back, edging ahead by a single point at halftime. As the game advanced into the third and final quarter, intensity grew. Both teams battled for control, keeping the score tight as cramps and fatigue set in. Loyola’s Shawn Ayuda became the top scorer, contributing crucial points during this period. With the score tied at 22-22, Ayuda added two points from a free throw, only for Xavier to respond swiftly with a basket to tie it again at 24-24, prompting a timeout.
In the match’s final seconds, Ayuda seized the moment with a decisive shot, securing Loyola’s victory and clinching the Men’s Basketball title. In a post-game interview with the Ateneo Hearter, Ayuda shared, “I definitely felt nervous but also excited knowing that the outcome of the game depended on me. Most importantly, I trusted not only myself but my teammates to persevere under pressure. With God’s guidance, I was able to make the shot. This faith allowed me to play with confidence.” He also praised the opposing team, saying, “Every player from the opposing team was exceptional, making this not only a challenge but a great opportunity to hone my skills and work alongside fellow players.” Meanwhile, House Loyola wins Women’s Basketball in the mixed category as they defeated House Xavier. House Faber ranked last as they were eliminated by House Xavier during the semifinals.
House Loyola victors over House Xavier with a 3-0 win at the Fr. Julian Hernando Athletic Field. The competition started with House Faber defeating House Xavier with a score of 2-1. House Faber then faced House Loyola but ended with a defeat of 0-2. After the match, House Xavier faced House Loyola, and the house in yellow came out victorious with a score of 2-0. A Penalty Shootout was then held to determine which team would advance to the finals with House Loyola winning the shootout against the other houses.
A second penalty shootout happened as Faber and Xavier failed to shoot a goal within the given time. House Xavier eventually won and advanced to the finals to match up against House Loyola. The finale between House Loyola and House Xavier was intense but ended with House Loyola winning the game with a score of 3-0 due to a late goal from Zachary Heathcote (12 Sapientia) during the second half. After the match, House Xavier faced House Loyola, and the house in yellow came out victorious with a score of 2-0. A Penalty Shootout was then held to determine which team would advance to the finals with House Loyola winning the shootout against the other houses.
House Xavier and House Loyola competed for the championship title in the Male and Female’s Grade 12 Table Tennis at the Magis Eagles Arena Basement. Xavier’s John Poca (12 – Magnaminitas) had a stressful match, but edged out Loyola’s Shawn Pastelero (12 – Magis) with a score of 3-2. At the same time, House Xavier’s Floresque Hingoyon (12 – Magnaminitas) swept the competition with a score of 3-0 against House Loyola’s Mariae Gotardo (12 – Magis).
House Xavier’s Lex Menchavez (11-Veritas) won first place in the Chess competition against House Loyola’s Rufino Requina (12-Servire). A silent crowd of students gathered around the match table, supporting their housemates as they eagerly awaited the final results of the close match between Lex and Rufino. Eventually, House Xavier reigned in first place, with House Loyola coming in second. House Faber put up a good match as they gracefully bowed out in third place.
House Xavier dominated the Mobile Legends Bang Bang competition finals and emerged as champion against House Loyola with a score of 2 – 0 in the finals game. Thus, House Loyola was the 1st runner-up while House Faber is the 2nd runner-up. Loyola’s Stacey Montealegre (11 – Lux) praised Xavier’s strong team play. Despite losing against the winning house, they still celebrated a previous win against House Faber and looks forward to next year’s competition.
House Xavier takes first place in the freestyle relay swimming competition`. The house emerged victorious with a record of one minute and fourteen seconds, beating Houses Loyola and Faber.
House Loyola claims first place in the breaststroke relay swimming competition held this afternoon. The house emerged victorious with a record of one minute and forty-two seconds, beating House Faber, who placed second. House Xavier did not place in the competition after being disqualified due to insufficient competitors.
Written by Giselle Gatchalian, Renz Landicho, Jed Ramos, Divine Polido, Matthew Vincent Chua, Edgar Bernas, Kyrelu Dacurawat, Lovely Yvonne Go, & Jan Thomas Uy
