The Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Blue Knights cemented their reputation as a dominant force in the 61st Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Regional and Cultural Sports Meet, securing podium finishes across four categories.
The athletes brought back five gold, nine silver, and one bronze throughout the competition, with the women’s volleyball and swimming teams taking center stage and winning gold, while women’s futsal and badminton finished silver and women’s chess finished with bronze.
At the same time, the men’s categories also delivered strong performances, with the men’s swimming team, men’s chess, men’s table tennis, and men’s badminton teams also clinching silver medals.
In the cultural sports segment, the Blue Knights continued their excellence with a first-place win in Danza En Cuatro, a second-place finish in the Mindanaon Dance Festival, and another second-place victory in Dance Sports Latin to conclude the meet.
In a historic fashion for AdDU’s Blue Knights Esports, all three teams saw a major breakthrough as they continue to dominate competition across the screen.
Both DOTA 2 and Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) teams secured gold, while Valorant placed silver, exhibiting mechanical prowess and game knowledge across the board.
Valorant team captain Donne Kristain “Dawnimaa” Macadangdang reflected on the team’s journey, emphasizing how their ability to adapt and change playstyles mid-game played a crucial role in securing their place among the top contenders.
“Compared to previous DACS tournaments, our team has shown significant growth. This year, we were able to adapt more effectively to the playstyles and strategies of tougher opponents. Our ability to adjust mid-game and counter different approaches was a major improvement from past performance.”
In the darkest hour of the game, MLBB team captain Ricky “ Junior” Arsenio proved to be the backbone of the team, as he led them down 2-1 and into a thrilling comeback.
“The toughest moment in the finals was when we were down 2-1, and the opposing team was already on match point… As the team captain, I knew I had to step up, so I reminded everyone that we still had a chance to turn things around and win the gold for our school. I think those words lit a fire in my teammates because, after that, everyone was fired up and determined to push for a Game 5.”
DOTA 2 player coach Rexter “Rex” Tan shared the challenges of balancing academics and esports, describing how the team embodied the Atenean value of Magis by striving for excellence in both fields.
“As my third year playing in DACS, this win means a lot. This shows how we Ateneans, being magis, balancing academics and competing.”
Arsenio expressed that organized esports is more than just a game and that achieving the highest level of competition requires strategy and team coordination on par with other traditional sports.
“This victory proves that esports deserves the same level of recognition as traditional sports in collegiate competitions. We always hear people saying ‘pindot-pindot lang ang esports’, but it is more than that. It’s more than just a game… Hopefully, this win helps solidify esports as a serious and respected field in the collegiate scene.”