Foiling the Accountancy (ACC) Griffins’ bid for a penalty shootout, the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Tigers sealed the gold medal finish through a penalty goal in the Palarong Atenista 2025 football finals, 2-1.

Led by the team captain and left winger Daryll Relatorres, SEA Tigers displayed tight defense from the onset of the match, thwarting ACC Griffins’ offense, and eventually shifted gears, scoring the first goal by a cross shot right at the heart of the Griffins’ fort.

SEA Tigers’ captain Relatorres highlighted the synergy and individual aptitudes of the team that led to producing such technical attacks.

“The key value that we have as a team for the past three years is our great depth of talent. Everyone on our team has played football in high school or is involved in a club outside of school. Having that kind of experience makes it easier for us to play as smoothly as possible,” Relatorres stated.

After the first goal, the SEA Tigers displayed immense firepower as their quick playmaking allowed them to attempt goals while keeping their rear side intact, denying the opponents’ offenses until the end of the first half.

Keeping their momentum, the eventual champions never hesitated to throw goal attempts, which were then responded to by the ACC Griffins’ forwards.

The ACC Griffins’ scoresheet was then scratched during the second half by a power shot from their team captain Victor Lagundi, threatening to derail the SEA Tigers’ championship bid.

With the score tied at 1-1, the SEA Tigers scaled their attack power in hopes of scoring by exploiting the opponents’ positioning, but the opponents’ exceptional defense denied it.

In the heat of the match, the ACC Griffins committed a direct free-kick infraction inside their own team’s penalty area by committing a handball as a response to Relatorres’ scoring attempt. 

This awarded SEA Tiger Relatorres a penalty kick, in which he ultimately buried the ball in the bottom bin, and granting the SEA Tigers a 2-1 advantage minutes before the whistle.

SEA Tigers’ midfielder Miguel Caangay conveyed his nervousness given the tight 1-1 score situation, but was immediately reassured the moment he saw the second goal go in the net.

”During the second half, I have felt an intense [sic] pressure after the opposing team scored a goal since there were only 10 minutes remaining and we needed to score a point immediately. After we scored the second goal, that was the moment that I knew we were gonna win.” 

Even from the tournament’s preliminary rounds, the SEA Tigers dominated the bracket with a clean run, suffering no losses and securing the top place after the round.

SEA Tigers’ midfielder and defender Jerald Estacio remarked on the obstacles the team encountered, notably the weather conditions and strong competition from rival teams.

“The tournament was really tough with the extreme heat and strong competition. Every team challenged us and made the road to the championship difficult. But we got through it by staying hydrated, working together, and giving it our all until the very end.”

The final standings declared the ACC Griffins second place, while the third-place finish was granted to the School of Nursing (SON) Panthers after defeating the Computer Studies (CS) Chameleons in the bronze match.

The championship match was held at the Fr. Martinez Sports Complex, Ateneo de Davao University – Matina campus, on October 5.