Emulating the competitive spirit of this year’s world cup, De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) Lasallian (LS) Cup relives both old and new rivalries with the historic clash between the big leagues of the crimson lions and golden foxes.
For more than a decade, the College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE) and the College of Business, Economics, Accountancy and Management (CBEAM) have traded blows for supremacy, with CITE as the previous rulers of the cup.
However, their territorial lines remain unstable, challenged by the rookie alliance of CIHJEAS, composed of the College of Education, Arts, and Sciences (CEAS), College of International Hospitality Management (CITHM), and College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), and the sovereign College of Nursing (CON) threatening to imperil the duel has long terrorized the field.
Between the Frontrunners
Aiming for back-to-back dominance, the Student Government (SG) – CITE Governor Rafael Luis Mendoza vows to extend their reign beyond the court and onto the pageant stage—however, with the crowns still held by the hunters, the lions are clawing to dethrone them.
“We plan on taking the crown,na kami naman, Mr. and Ms. CITE naman, yung Mr. and Ms. Lasallian Cup,” said Mendoza.
Furthermore, spaces for training preparation and skill enhancement are among the extended support of the council to ensure their athletes are primed to conquer the combat.
“Kapag magte-training sila [we] make sure that the players can do what they need to do to win. Iyan yung job namin [na] mabigyan sila ng opportunity [na] makapag-train. […] As long as there are venues dito sa school, tinutulungan talaga namin [sila] na walang […] ibang isipin kundi maglaro, kundi ihasa ang kanilang skills,” Mendoza shared.
Meanwhile, Brandon Pecho, SG – CBEAM Finance Manager, set the tone for the yellow vulpines to bounce back from last season’s loss. However, he remained steadfast in affirming that the rivalry is meant to foster camaraderie.
“For CBEAM, even though we have experienced countless storms, we are still choosing to rise above. [This competition] is not a rival in a sense that everyone’s angry with each other, but it’s more of a friendly competition to see how everyone becomes or stays on their toes,” Pecho emphasized.
Beyond committing efforts to ensure their athletes’ peak performance on the courts, the council underscored that the department’s unity and support during matches could be their way of reclaiming their legacy.
“I believe that by having the CBEAM community act as one, supporting each other, and also being there for one another will truly be an advantage that every CBEAM player will have […] truly, the support of the CBEAM community is what helps the college reclaim its throne.”
Annual Anticipation
With their preparations in place, Lasallians expressed their excitement to witness who will emerge victorious in the combat of each college team.
Hoping for smooth management in the LS Cup, first-year BS Legal Management student Anthonelo Arman Jumalan seeks organization to avoid confusion among students.
“I expect […] this year’s LS Cup na [maging] timely [and] well-organized. […] Para maganda yung flow […] [and] para wala pong masayang na oras […] [at hindi] magka-miscommunication,” Jumalan expressed.
Among them, Carl Nathan Caraig, a First-year BS Psychology student, shared his enthusiasm to experience the LS Cup following countless academic activities.
“After […] months of grueling schoolworks and exhaustion from our midterms, siyempre, excited ako […] [na] makapag-enjoy […] [sa] ating LS Cup. […] Although […] hindi ako sumali sa kahit anong sports, excited ako mag-cheer on for my team,” said Caraig.
Resonating with the anticipation to unwind, Third-year BS Nursing student Abigail Nea Gaffud added how the LS Cup will serve as an opportunity to slack off from the daily academic pressures.
“We have been very stressed from the past few weeks, […] [so] this is […] parang vacation for us to enjoy or something to look forward to and […] lessen our stress,” said Gaffud.
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As the games commence, the governance of the two long-standing rivals of CITE and CBEAM will be continuously tested. With strengthened ties, will the dormant avians and the fledgling buttons finally awaken to tip the cup in their favor?
