3 AHS debaters tie for Overall Best Speaker award in Crescini Debate Cup!

February 03, 2015
By: 
AHS Debaters;
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AHS debaters (from left) Adrian Padilla (12J), Luigi Alcañeses (10A), and France Santos (12A) tied as the overall best speakers in the Gov. Prospero Crescini Debate Cup.Last 24-25 January 2015, the Rotary Club of San Francisco Del Monte hosted the second edition of the Gov. Prospero Crescini Debate Cup. The first day of the event was held at the Quezon City Science High School, while the second day was held at La Salle Greenhills. The tournament featured four preliminary rounds participated in by 40 teams, while only sixteen teams qualified for four elimination rounds, also known as “break rounds.” The tournament was hosted in the Asian Parliamentary 3-on-3 format.

  The Ateneo High School Debaters set a new record in the competition by having three of its members rank and tie as the overall best speaker out of one hundred twenty (120) debaters overall. France Santos (12A) from Team AHS A, Adrian Padilla (12J) from Team AHS B, and Luigi Alcañeses (10A) from Team AHS C ranked as the best speakers of the tournament. The fourth best speaker was Renz Reyes (10A) from Team AHS A, the sixth best speaker was Josiah Encinas (12F) from team AHS C, the seventh best speaker was Miguel Guerrero (12A) from Team AHS B, and the ninth best speaker was Poch Kalagayan (12A) from Team AHS C.

 
            The debaters also performed impressively as teams. Team B finished the preliminary rounds as the top-seeded team of the tournament after going undefeated, and reached the semifinal. Team AHS C broke as the third best team and reached the semifinals as well. Team AHS D, comprised of Ervin Grana (10L), JC Cruz (10L), and Hans Gonzalez (9M) broke as the 6th best team and reached the Octofinal of the tournament. Team AHS A, unfortunately, did not qualify to compete in the break rounds due to their third member missing two preliminary rounds after taking his Student Achievement Test (SAT). In spite of the technicality, Team AHS A was lauded as among the highest performing and scoring teams in the tournament during the competition.
 
            The moderator of the team is Mrs. Czari Oliveros-Manlapaz. The team’s head coach is Mr. Mahar Abrera Mangahas. The team was also trained by AHS alumni Henry Fernando, Ryan Abis, Kiko Santos, Nick Fortuna, Martin Abis, Miguel Ventura, Matt San Pedro, Isaac Lee, and Daryl Isla for the competition.