Luigi Alcañeses & Julia Ocoma are IDeA 2 debate champs

The team of Luigi Alcañeses (12-A) & Julia Ocoma (11-Favre) won the Interscholastic Debate Association (IDeA) 2 Invitational Championship over 66 other teams comprised of 132 debaters from private and public schools from all over Metro Manila. The win was a history-making one, as Ocoma has become the first female Ateneo Debater to win a debate championship for Ateneo Senior High School, and it is a major one.
 
            In the Grand Finals, Alcañeses & Ocoma defeated 1^st runnersup Renz Reyes (12-A) & Hans Gonzalez (11-Hoyos) on a 4-3 split decision before a panel of seven judges on the motion, “This house believes that the Catholic Church should excommunicate Duterte.” The two other teams in the Grand Final were International School of Manila and Immaculate Conception Academy. Alcañeses was the Best Speaker of the Finals on a 5-2 split decision.

 
            For the second consecutive time, Ateneo Senior High School was the only institution to have all five of its teams break into the elimination rounds, in addition to Ateneo Junior High School’s four, to make a total of nine breaking teams—a new IDeA record.
 
            For ASHS, the team of Phil Javellana (12-H) & Red Nadela (12-A), and Mikko Vitug (11-Pongracz) & Nicole Masagca (11-Chabanel) reached the tournament semifinals. The team of JC Cruz (12-L) & Carlos Tiu (12-A) reached the tournament Quarterfinals.
 
            For AJHS, the team of Matthew Mercado (10-Southwell) & Ryan Oquiza (10-Owen) reached the tournament semifinals, while Matti Tan (10-Mayer) & David Africa (10-Mayer) reached the tournament quarterfinals. Finally, the teams of Benj Dy Quiangco (10-Mayer) & Gabe Apostol (10-Mayer), and Carlo Pastor (10-Mayer) & Johann Claveria (10-Mayer) reached the tournament pre-quarterfinals.
 
            Individually, the Ateneo Debaters once more dominated the list of the Top Ten Overall Best Speakers of the tournament, with half coming from Ateneo. Matti Tan was the 1^st Overall Best Speaker of the tournament out of 132 debaters, while Renz Reyes came in as 2^nd Overall Best Speaker. Hans Gonzalez and Red Nadela tied as 5^th Overall Best Speakers while Luigi Alcañeses came in as 9^th Overall Best Speaker of the tournament.
 
            IDeA 2 was hosted in Quezon City High School from February 4-5, 2017. The Interscholastic Debaters Association (IDeA) refers to a conglomeration of schools from Metro Manila.
 
            The ASHS and AJHS Debaters are moderated by Mrs. Fe De Jesus and Mr. Joel Falgui respectively. The team was coached by Henry Fernando, Mahar Mangahas, Miguel Ventura, Tres Yap, and Josiah Encinas for the competition. The Ateneo Debaters extend their gratitude to Dr. Carmela Oracion, Principal of the ASHS and AJHS, and both the ASHS and AJHS Offices of Student Activities and Formation for their support in the competition.