Peysports 2023

October 2023 Issue no. 2

Pacesetter’s University Intramurals 2023 Special Issue

INTRAMS IS BACK!

Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 unifies BulSUans anew Rachel Hannah Beltran

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teering gears are back in the game.

After three long years of hiatus due to the pandemic, BulSUans geared up with their blazing flags and banners as the opening ceremony of Bulacan State University (BulSU) Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 transpired through a valiant parade from the Activity Center to Valencia Hall, October 16.

Rhealyn Mirandilla, a high jump and relay gold medalist of the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (NSCUAA) 2023, formally unveiled the intramurals through the lighting of the flame.

With the theme “Balik Saya, Buong Sigla, Sa Bagong Simula,” BulSUans expressed their excitement as they looked forward to a weeklong celebration of this year’s intramurals. ...on page 6

WHAT’S INSIDE Gold Gears reap 61 medals as R3 finishes 02 1st runner-up in Nat’l SCUAA Games PAST GLORY RESTORED: CSER reclaims lost glory in Men’s Basketball Tourney

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CIT Stingers tame CSER Stallions, 2-0, resume 6-year rule in Men’s Sepak Takraw

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Hagonoy campus goes undefeated in futsal

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OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

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THE NATIONAL’S GOLD. BulSU Gold Gears make their presence known as they set foot in the 2023 National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Meet last October 1 at Capas, Tarlac. The collegiate sports event lasted a week long. Photo by Law Francisco

Gold Gears reap 61 medals as R3 finishes 1st runner-up in Nat’l SCUAA Games

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he Gold Gears stay golden even in the national lens.

In the electrifying return of the pinnacle of collegiate sports, the Bulacan State University (BulSU) proved its athletic prowess yet again as the Gold Gears spearheaded the Central Luzon to a splendid first runner-up finish in the 2023 National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Meet.

The host region showed grit and mastery in the different sports of the first National Olympics since 2018, with BulSU paving the way to a 100-medal finish after clinching 31 gold, 29 silver, and 40 bronze medals in the week-long competition from October 1-6 in Capas, Tarlac.

After successfully defending their crown at the last Regionals, the BulSU Gold Gears reasserted their dominance in the Games putting SUC III on their backs as the team captured 23 gold, 22 silver, and 16 bronze medals for a historic total of 61 medal haul.

“Our athletes prepared a lot. They showcased their skills. Pinakita talaga nila

John Rhey Piamonte iyong commitment nila and hardwork. We are so happy na lahat ng games na nilaruan natin doon may place,” Sports Development Office Head, Mr. Emilio A. Cruz stated.

and Joaquin Tan bannered BulSU pride after the trio finished second among the 16 participating regions in men’s badminton.

“I am very proud of our athletes, trainers and coaches, talagang pinakita nila iyong love nila sa BulSU sa bawat laban nila,” he added.

The 11-man sepak takraw troop headed by Coach Raul Bernaldez managed to escape Region 13 in a nerve-wracking 2-1 semifinal win before bowing out to the eventual champions NCR in the finals, settling for a silver medal finish.

Lighting up the New Clark City Stadium, the university’s athletics team ruled the track as they came on top of the pedestal, stunning the mighty National Capital Region (NCR) in the process after a national-best 43 medal tally.

It was also a run for the ages for the women’s sepak squad, bringing home the bronze medal in their first National SCUAA Games appearance after prevailing over the Bicol Region, 2-1 (21-19, 20-22, 21-19).

Meanwhile, the trio of Gabriela Benbenuto, Angelica Faye Rosales, and Jean Chloe Miclat set the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) ablaze as the Gold Gears bets claimed the gold medal in women’s table tennis while Joyce Ann Bernal, Rein Jazerine Guese, Nyka Jane Crisostomo and Christine Dorega also strike gold in women’s badminton.

On the other side of the court, the region’s finest smashers that were composed of John Javier Manalansan, Jhustine Dionisio,

Capping off the tournament, Coach Eddie Evangelista and the Gold Gear volleybelles demolished Northern Mindanao in straight sets for a monumental podium finish, seizing the bronze.

After six days of rousing sports action, NCR was hailed as the overall champion with 158 medals, including 99 gold medals while Region 6 secured the third spot by winning 109 medals.

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NSCUAA Table Tennis: R3 paddlers top NCR, 2-1 Dustin James Bayog

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onning the region’s yellow and blue jerseys, the Central Luzon table tennis team bagged the overall title in the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Games women’s team event against the determined National Capital Region (NCR) in Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) - Continuing Education Center, Tarlac City, October 4.

The Region 3 paddlers swept the two single events with BulSU Gold Gears’ bet Gabriela Benbenuto and Jorina Nepomuceno of Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) defeating their respective opponents while Gold Gears duo Angelica Faye Rosales and Jean Chloe Miclat failed to reign the doubles event after falling short against the NCR women’s team.

Banking on her steady composure, Gold Gears’ pride Benbenuto pulled off clutch plays in the extended fourth set as she delivered the final attacks to be one set away from claiming the gold medal for Central Luzon.

However, Benbenuto fell short in the fifth set as NCR’s paddler Mikaela Delina fired back with aggressive plays to easily nab the set in an 11-4 advantage, extending the match after making it to 2-3 sets, still favored in Region 3.

Dealing the decisive blow, Benbenuto regrouped herself in the crucial sixth canto after executing superb top spins and solid smashes to seal the best-of-seven final and the deciding match in singles with 4-2 scores (10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7) against NCR, and to hail Central Luzon as the overall winner in the team event.

Meanwhile, BulSU Gold Gears and Region 3 duo, Rosales and Miclat, bowed down to their final match in women’s doubles against NCR mighty pairs Lovely Buensalido and Cherry Daclan in an upsetting five sets.

The Gold Gears duo managed to steal the fourth set before the NCR regained its spirit to close the match in 4-1 (3-11, 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11) sets.

Drawing the first blood in the team event, Nepomuceno of BPSU took down the NCR bet, Jerrica Madrideo, as she bounced back harder after dropping the set four by launching quick plays and spins to seize the first match in singles in 4-1 score, (11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5).

Photo by Ron Jeric Faustino

Central Luzon conquers CARAGA, makes 1st sepak finals appearance Dave Samson

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eeling from a second regulation setback, Region 3 banked on a superb close-out run to quell Region 13’s comeback attempt, 2-1 (2-1, 0-2, 2-0) regu in the semi-finals of the 2023 National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Games Men’s Sepak Takraw held at the Municipal Auditorium in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac, October 5.

Central Luzon started off strong with the three-man crew of John Robert Barreto, Erickson Vargas, and Carl John Sastrillo showcasing their Malolos-built chemistry bombarding the opponents with a barrage of bicycle kicks to overwhelm the opposing defense and bagging the first regulation.

“Sinabi ko na mag-focus muna tayo sa semi-finals, tinalo nga natin ang Region 13, na talaga namang, even though tinalo natin sila sa elimination, sabi ko nga sa kanila, maging positive at gamitin ang diskarte, alam naman natin na lahat na ng pumasok sa top 4 ay malalakas na. Sa awa naman ng Diyos tayo ang nakakuha ng slot for battle for championship,” Coach Raul Bernaldez said after the match.

Meanwhile, the trifecta of Lynuel Cris Palomar, Michael Canasares, and Angelbert Dadios put the Region 13’s hope on their backs, stepping up their defense, smothering the SUC III on defense forcing consecutive errors to cop the win in the second regulation.

The final regulation was a massacre with the Gold Gears trio of Jan Mark Mallorca, John Michael Carbolo, and Winson Vilegaño showing off an exceptional display of teamwork and precision to clinch the game in a dominating fashion, 21-19, 21-7.

But the host region settled for a second-place finish as they fell to the mighty National Capital Region (NCR) sepak takraw team in a devastating 0-2 loss in the finals match. However, the silver finish was already a step up from the previous bronze of the region at the last Nationals back in 2018.

On the other hand, despite competing for the first time, the region’s women’s sepak takraw team was able to end their campaign with a podium finish, grabbing the bronze medal after an impressive triumph over the Bicol Region, 2-1 (21-19, 20-22, 21-19).

Photo by Law Francisco

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

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RULERS OF THE TRACK

Central Luzon hailed as Athletics Overall Champion John Rhey Piamonte

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fter dominating the Regionals last February, the Bulacan State University (BulSU) Gold Gears athletics team took the 2023 National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) by storm, dominating the track to lead Central Luzon above the 16 participating regions at the New Clark City Stadium.

A staggering display of poise and grit was showcased by the region’s finest runners, hurdlers, and jumpers that resulted in a national-best 43-medal haul, in which the team won 23 gold, 10 silver, and 10 bronze medals during the three-day event.

Gold Gears’ Mark Aldwin Alquino, Meralyn Martin, Patrick Salceno, and Pamela Mirandilla reigned supreme in the 4x400m mixed relay, finishing with the fastest time in the penultimate event.

The last regional standout Alquino also bagged three more silver medals after a string of strong performances in the 400-meter hurdle, 4x400 men’s relay, and 400-meter run. He also managed to bring the bronze in the 4x100 mixed relay together with John Eric Arsenio, Rochelle Dizon, and Keithleen Morato.

Another campus pride, Meralyn Martin flaunted her supremacy after running through the competition, finishing with five gold medals, topping the women’s 400-meter run, 400-meter hurdles, 4x100, 4x400 women’s relay, and the 4x400 mixed relay. The region’s frontrunner finished her campaign with a silver medal in the women’s 200-meter race.

In a studded final heat of the 400-meter race, Martin clocked a 1:05.30 time to cap the gold, barely escaping Region 6 and National Capital Region’s bets.

“Sobrang saya ko po kasi lahat ng pinagpaguran ko, ng team namin, saka po ng mga coaches, nag-pay off po talaga. Lahat po ng sacrifices, mga naiwan po naming acads, pagod sa trainings, naging worth it po in the end,” Martin stated after leading the region in the athletics medal count.

Setting the bar higher, Rhealyn Mirandilla conquered the unprecedented 1.53 meters to claim the women’s high jump gold medal, putting the university in the National Olympics record books at the same leap.

The Malolos-based Mirandilla first cleared the 1.50 meters in her last attempt to eliminate her rivals from contention then went on to surpass her personal record at 1.52, setting the crowd in the New Clark roaring.

One more Mirandilla made her name known in Tarlac as Pamela Mirandilla scorched hot in the women’s 1,500-meter run as she pulled off a 5:08.83 record time to outrun the other 15 contenders.

“Ilang buwang gumigising ng 4 am ‘yang mga ‘yan para sa training tapos umuuwi ng 5 pm. Iba ang athletics, kailangan ng passion, dedication, sacrifice at discipline. Nakita namin first hand paano nila pinaghandaan ito, kaya alam ko kaya nila,” Region 3 Athletics Head Coach John Michael Alfonso on the team’s preparation heading into the tournament.

GOLD

23

SILVER

10

BRONZE

10

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Gold Gear smashers propel R3 to SCUAA badminton gold Jannes Magayon

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roving why they are truly a team to beat, Central Luzon cruised past its final smash in the Women’s Badminton tourney against rival National Capital Region (NCR) after taking down their respective foes during the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Games at the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), October 4.

and successfully ending the first frame, 21-5.

Region 3 asserted their mastery in the women’s singles matches as Christine Dorega and Joyce Bernal of BulSU Gold Gears showcased a dazzling performance as they outsmarted both their NCR rivals Joana Dumapit and Alize De Guzma in straight sets 21-5, 21-8, and 21-16, 21-3.

Controlling the pace of the match early, Bernal exhibited her dominance on the court during game three as she bombarded multiple net shots and smashes, galvanizing the momentum for her side, 21-16.

Flaunting her impressive and pure talents, Dorega fired up a blistering net play, preventing their entry for the best-of-three match with a winning note, 21-8.

The 21-year-old Dorega took up an early advantage as she unleashed a series of drop shots and drives, leaving a 13-point deficit

Photo by Law Francisco

On the other hand, Bernal smelled blood in the second frame after executing consecutive feisty smashes against the NCR’s native Alize De Guzman, hacking out a 21-3 victory and closing the match with no time.

Meanwhile, BulSUans Rein Guese and Myka Crisostomo succumbed to the NCR in women’s doubles matches in the final game despite fighting brilliantly against sister twain Jermae and Angel Esto.

The two teams in the doubles were determined to pull the victory, but the NCR still continued to dominate the game during the first and last set, scoring a 2-1 run (16-21, 21-19, 16-21).

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

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“Since pandemic dati, ngayon mas nae-enjoy ‘yung intrams kasi nakikita na physically ‘yung mga sports events. Pati na rin sa mga players, nakakapaglaro na sila,” Lyka Shydie Doctolero from the College of Science said in an interview with Pacesetter.

This year’s intramurals comprised 19 sporting events, which included the usual ball games like volleyball, basketball, badminton, lawn tennis, and table tennis. The games also introduced a new event, which is esports (Mobile Legends: Bangbang).

Meanwhile, two special events were added: the Mr. and Ms. Intramurals and the hip-hop competition.

Moreover, there are 13 official participating colleges inside the main campus and five satellite campuses namely Hagonoy, Meneses, Bustos, Sarmiento and San Rafael.

On the other hand, Eimirene Simbulan, an athlete from Bustos Campus, admitted her physical exhaustion, yet her heart for representing her campus ignited the flame of her courage and determination.

“Nakakapagod dahil pabalik-balik.

Galing pa po kasi akong Pampanga kaya medyo malayo po pero kinakaya po dahil ginusto ko naman po ‘to at para po sa Bustos,” she said.

“Nakaka-excite po dahil sa three years tayong [nasa] pandemic, nagbukas po ‘yung intrams. Nakaka-excite po na lumaro ulit at i-represent ‘yung campus na pinapasukan ko,” Simbulan added.

Moreover, BulSU Sports and Development Head Emilio Cruz conveyed his satisfaction and hope as the university games finally took its place this year after being crippled due to the coronavirus.

“We’re so happy na naibalik natin

‘yung saya for almost three na na-stress tayo sa pandemic na ‘yan. ‘Yung lungkot na ‘yan, napalitan na ng competition, ng mga activities. Masaya kami kasi nagpe-perform ‘yung mga bata nang actual kumpara sa online. Mas maganda ‘yung actual talaga, nae-enjoy ng bawat isa,” Cruz told Pacesetter.

Despite the fueled enjoyment of BulSUans, some students were still conducting classes and academic activities regardless of the intramurals.

It can be recalled that the Office of the Chancellor for Main Campus released an Office Memorandum No. 21, Series of 2023, on October 14, which gave the faculties discretion whether to conduct in-person or asynchronous modes of teaching during Intramurals Week 2023.

However, for the external campuses, the Office of the Chancellor for External Campus advised the faculty to assign asynchronous activities within the duration of the intramurals.

Ma. Angelica Candido, a nursing student, stated that they still had regular classes amid the celebration of intramurals.

“May ibang magkakaibigan na gusto nila suportahan ‘yung kaibigan nila pero hindi magagawa kasi may kailangang pasukan na mga klase,” Candido stated.

Despite the hitches in the intramurals, Candido still hoped that the administration would allow the faculty to not conduct classes to provide support for the student-athletes.

“Sana hindi na lang nagklase para rin na-utilize, ‘yung masuportahan man lang.

Maliit lang ‘yung population namin tapos may klase pa, lalong walang susuporta,” she added.

COE Red Ants, Bustos Double-Headed Eagles, namayagpag sa Men’s, Women’s Chess Mark Steven Cano & Kristel Anne Vadal

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inagharian ng College of Engineering (COE) Red Ants ang dibisyon ng Men’s Chess nang mailaso ang gintong medalya sa pagsasara ng Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 na ginanap sa BulSU E-Library, Oktubre 19.

Nagsalpak si Philip Jobert M. De Leon, Emmanuel Joseph Gamutan, Tracy Mc Panganiban, Aries Pronebo, at Aiam Airron Roxas ng 13 wins at 2 draws sa likod ng mga epektibong taktika upang matagumpay na itaas ang liderato ng COE Red Ants tungo sa pagsikwat ng inaasam na gintong medalya.

“S’yempre masaya po ako, unang-una nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga coaches ko kasi nagtiwala sa ‘kin bilang team captain. Lahat naman po kami nag-contribute sa team, hindi naman po ako magcha-champion mag-isa kung ako lang, collective effort po ito,” wika ni De Leon na siyang team captain ng Red Ants.

Naitulak naman sa ikalawang puwesto ang College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Firefox na sumelyo ng 11 panalo at tatlong draw habang kinubra ng Sarmiento Campus Stars ang tansong medalya na nagtala ng 10 panalo, limang draw, at walang talo.

Sa women’s division, nagreyna ang Bustos Campus Double-Headed Eagles matapos magsumite ng 10 wins at 4 draws record sina Kyle Syrrill Silverio, Karen Centeno, Julienne Reigne Flores, Katrina Micaela Barbosa, Jannah Mae Ventura, at Sarah Mischelle Bernardo.

“Isang karangalan para sa Bustos Campus na maipanalo ito after three years na walang intrams. Sobrang saya namin as a team, as individual and proud kami sa isa’t isa,” saad ni Silverio.

Nagawa nilang ihatid ang naghahabol na COE Red Ants sa ikalawang puwesto nang magpinta ng 9 wins, 4 draws, at 1 loss record habang naging sapat naman ang 8 wins at 6 draws ng College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM) Tigers upang makopo ang ikatlong puwesto sa women’s division.

BACK AGAIN. After three years, BulSU Intramurals 2023 officially closes its one-week successful run at Valencia Hall, October 21. After three years of hiatus because of the pandemic, the long-awaited sports event finally resumed. Photo by Mylene Lovelyn Tumamak

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ALL HAIL THE STALLIONS. The College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) hailed as the champion of this year’s Men’s Basketball Tournament of BulSU’s 2023 Intramurals. The team won against the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) last October 19, at the Activity Center. Photo by Law Francisco

PAST GLORY RESTORED:

CSER reclaims lost glory in Men’s Basketball Tourney

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fter 11 years of absence, the Stallions are back at the top of the pedestal.

The College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions came out too strong and too experienced– basically too much of everything– dethroning the defending title holder College of Industrial Technology (CIT) Stingers in a wide 101-69 victory to clinch the Men’s Basketball Tournament championship crown in the 2023 University Intramurals, October 19.

With an untainted 4-0 win-loss record, the Stallions asserted their dominance once again against the Stingers as conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kian Borj Dela Cruz played as the pillar of strength with 26 points, wrapping up his golden stride with a historic tournament sweep.

“First time kong makasali sa intrams ng [BulSU]. Sobrang saya, tapos ayon, unang sali ko, nakuha ko ‘yung champion. Kaya nakaka-proud lang as a team and as an individual,” said Dela Cruz, the Stallions’ shooting guard.

In their quest for the coveted title, the CSER unleashed a tremendous scoring

Jannes Magayon & Rustom Rizo spree in the last minutes of the game as Dela Cruz fired in all cylinders with his signature treys to establish a lead as high as 32 points, securing the title in his hot hands in the fourth frame, 101-69.

“Itong team na ‘to, memorable ‘to.

Kasi, 2014 pa lang ako dito, nandirito na ‘ko sa BSU— hindi kami nagcha-champion, pero ngayon nakuha namin ‘yung championship.

So, ito ‘yung pinaka-memorable talaga— itong 2023,” said John Michael Alfonso, the head coach of CSER Stallions, in an interview with Pacesetter after his team bagged the college’s first championship since 2012.

Stallions’ Jiro Del Poso and Marco Matias joined hands to also provide a big spark in stretching the lead as the duo chipped in hot shots in the third quarter.

Matias flexed his height and strength, leaving the crowd astonished as he capped a superb dunk that extended their lead to 20 points, 60-40.

The atmosphere slightly shifted in favor of the Stingers as they stole the momentum with an ideal 36-43 gap from the Stallions after Jeff Cezar casted a jump shot, dominating on the offense and hounded

defense of the CSER. Opening the game pumped up, the Stallions and Stingers blew away the tournament after coming out ablaze as the two teams exchanged treys executed by Del Poso and Mallari during the first minutes of the game.

The CIT started the game red hot in the first and second frames but they missed the crucial charities during the third and fourth quarters. A series of turnovers and with the CSER exploding in the second half, the group conceded in the last few minutes of the game– signaling the triumph for the Stallions.

“Actually okay lang, e, kasi ang target lang talaga namin quarterfinals, so semifinals, nakarating kami ng finals, worth it na sa ‘min ‘yon. Kumbaga, great achievement na para sa team,” said the CIT Stingers’ Head Coach Eduardo Gonzalvo.

Meanwhile, the Sarmiento Stars completed the podium after defeating the Hagonoy Kingfishers in the bronze medal match.

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

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Lex Libras finish women’s lawn tennis unscathed Mikaela Calixto & Lyka Rodriguez

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he College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) Lex Libras’ Dewan Concepcion swept the way bound to finals after reigning in the Singles A Women’s Lawn Tennis during the Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 at the Bulacan Sports Complex, October 18.

Concepcion, the CCJE’s ace, maintained her composure all throughout the match by gaining a 2-0 win-loss after pulling out the bet from the College of Industrial and Technology (CIT) Stingers.

Proving her spot on the finals, she displayed precise shot placements, aggressive smash and serves over her rival from the Stingers, Macy Manansala Lalic, by a 6-0 run.

Despite closing out the matches successfully, tension and pressure still crept on Concepcion while competing from other colleges.

“Naging three days lang ‘yung preparation ko kaya iba ‘yung pressure talaga unlike sa mga naging laban ko before sa mga big events na laro kagaya ng tournament games, division games, and CLARAA (Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association),” Concepcion said.

Meanwhile, the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM) Tigers nabbed gold medals on Men’s Singles A through Jomari De Paz, and Erwin Nerona on Singles B after mounting three consecutive wins against the College of Engineering (COE) Red Ants, College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Firefox, and College of Social Science and Philosophy (CSSP) Rajahs with a 6-0 score.

The lone women representative of Red Ants, Sherlyn Ramos fell short to the gold medal match after losing with a 2-6 and landed on silver medal.

LAND OVER THE SKIES. The College of Sports, Exercise, and Recreation triumph at the top against the Meneses Campus’ Pink Eagles in the Softball Tournament of the 2023 BulSU’s Intramurals last October 20, at the Bulacan Sports Complex. Photo by Josefina Macaranas

Stallions grapple softball title after victory over Pink Eagles in heated finals

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Allana Pariño, Harvey Sabado, & Mark David Silencio

n a tight back-and-forth match, the College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions managed to pull off a late game surge to escape the Meneses Pink Eagles in a close 14-13 win, securing the gold medal in the Palarong Pamantasan 2023 Softball finals at the Bulacan Sports Complex, October 20.

After being down 3-8 in the fourth inning, the Stallions finished the game strong, scoring a couple of breaks in the decisive inning for a 3-1 reversal that sealed the deal and added another gold in the already leading medal haul of CSER. This climactic rematch marked the Stallions’ second win against the Pink Eagles, having faced off against them during the first day of the preliminary rounds.

“Okay naman ‘yung naging flow ng game, naging smooth naman lahat although nu’ng umpisa medyo na-rattle ‘yung mga bata especially sa CSER dahil nakapasok ‘yung Meneses pero after naman no’n, kailangan lang talaga siguro i-motivate ‘yung mga bata na ‘wag silang mawawalan ng pagasa,” CSER Stallions’ Coach Mr. Jessie Reyes said.

The CSER Stallions exhibited superb resilience in the latter innings after a tough and nerve-wracking seesaw match, getting back on every blow dealt to them by the Pink Eagles—ultimately culminating in a balk after an illegal pitch thrown by Meneses’ Rodriguez.

Unfaltered, the proud Pink Eagles’

Coach Joimy Advincula affirmed that “for overall experience, mula sa walang alam ‘yung mga players hanggang sa huling game, pinakita nila ‘yung best nila and then not bad para sa mga first timer — halos lahat first timers eh. Hopefully next year makabawi sila and feeling ko babawi naman sila.”

The Pink Eagles started strong with three points in the first inning, bouncing back later on after a seemingly stagnant second and third inning; registering a whopping eight points in the fourth inning against the Stallions’ three markers.

“Ang nakakatuwa doon, ang ganda nu’ng game. Nakita natin na pinakita nu’ng mga bata kung ano ‘yung pinagpaguran nilang training and also nakita ‘yung determination nila na makuha ‘yung championship,” Advincula added.

Stallions’ pitcher and catcher, Angelica Glorioso and Jerrylyn Marasigan exemplified a constant effort both offensively and defensively to earn the victory for their team with Glorioso enduring several intentional walks and Marasigan saving a couple of swings for the CSER. On the flip side, Pink Eagles leaned on Erika Matawaran leading Meneses to its 8-point score during the game’s 4th inning.

Matawaran in the 5th and last inning was also able to secure a home run adding a crucial point for the team.

Meanwhile, the Hagonoy Kingfishers placed third in the round-robin tournament after finishing with an inferior quotient, taking home the bronze medal.

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Kingfishers dive dominantly, clinch men’s volleyball crown

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John Josua Jusi nblemished for a reason.

The Hagonoy Campus Kingfishers topped the men’s volleyball tournament after eradicating the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM) Tigers, 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 25-21) in the head-to-head gold medal match of the Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 at the BulSU Activity Center, October 20.

With their impeccable record in the eliminations round all the way to the semi-finals, the high-esteemed Kingfishers brought an empathic start in the gold medal match, tallying 12 early attack points that fazed Tigers for a 25-20 opening set.

“It’s important to have a communication. Simula pa man din noong trainings namin, I always teach them how to communicate and practice chemistry. Kahit na talo kami sa crowd, dapat composed pa rin kami sa pag-achieve ng goal namin,” Hagonoy Kingfishers head coach Mark David Otayde said.

However, there was no easy pass for the Kingfishers squad as the Tigers managed to defend their offense to snatch the second set, 25-19.

In the pivotal third set, both teams exchanged haymakers against each other but it was the Kingfishers who took control of the set, 25-17, after containing the attacks of the Tigers, forcing them to 12 unforced errors.

“Palagi kong inaangat ‘yung kanilang confidence kahit na hindi namin ito homecourt. Pinapayo ko sa kanila na gawin naming crowd namin ‘yung mga tagasuporta ng kalaban,” the Hagonoy Kingfishers team captain Erickson Aquino said after finding their way back in the latter part of the game.

There was no more holding back for the Kingfishers as they continued their momentum up to the fourth set dropping a 7-2 bomb that was capped by a service ace to put the nail in the coffin, sealing the game at 25-21.

Meanwhile, the College of Education (COED) Blue Flames crushed the College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions in a straight-set victory, 3-0 (25-14, 25-17) to notch the bronze medal in the competitive men’s volleyball tournament.

Meneses, CSER sweep final rounds to claim Intrams beach volley tilt Elyjah Jann Rosales

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ecovering from a tight first set, the Meneses Campus Pink Eagles stepped on the gas pedal in the second frame to snag the men’s beach volleyball championship title in the comebacking Palarong Pampamantasan 2023.

Pink Eagles Joseph Dioneda and James Jerald Coronado never looked back on their opening jitters to block yet another gold medal for the College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions with a 21-19, 21-9 final-round victory at the Bulacan State University (BulSU) Tennis Court, October 20.

Despite being new in the beach volleyball scene, Dioneda

and Coronado were able to endure the initial neck-and-neck duel with veteran Stallions John Kenneth Villena and Gerald Jigo Centeno through their offensive firepower, 19-17.

Yet Villena and Centeno managed to regroup just in time from their defensive collapse to fire away two consecutive off-speed hits to tie the first canto at all-19.

Bouncing back big, the Pink Eagles duo did not just stop the momentum building up but instead maximized their attacking advantage and the CSER tandem’s errors to seize the opening frame, 21-19.

This show of force continued for the Pink Eagles in the succeeding set as they successfully slowed down the ball play of the Stallions.

Fueled to end the match, Dioneda and Centeno built an insurmountable 10-point lead, 18-8, leaving Villena and Centeno crumbling to retrieve themselves.

The Pink Eagles duo did not need to push any further after the CSER tandem gave away chip points to cap off the men’s beach volley event, 21-9.

“Nakaka-overwhelm kasi first time lang namin mag-beach volley tapos sa part na ‘yon ay medyo nahirapan kami nang bahagya dahil nahahabol ‘yung score namin,” Dioneda told Pacesetter in an interview. ...on page 12

Photo by Nicole Jacinto

Captured moments of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and solidarity.

set the pace

Setting the pace towards a more united Bulacan State University through sports.

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

02| | 12 ...from page 9.

The Pink Eagle crowd favorite is set to play for the BulSU men’s beach volleyball team after being recruited by the university’s head coach.

Meanwhile, CSER women’s beach volleyball team took revenge for their men counterparts after dominating the championship match against the Bustos campus in a landslide 21-13, 21-10 triumph.

Stallions Ma. Lourdes Santos and Myra Madel Lopez were flawless from start to end, not letting the Double-Headed Eagles Sandra Mariel Pascual and Danica Carpio taste any lead.

Demolishing their reception, the CSER duo poured down service aces in the first set to crush the morale of the Bustos tandem.

Their already collapsing floor defense further disintegrated with Santos’ varied shots to easily pocket the opening frame at 21-13.

Capitalizing on this advantage, the Stallions limited the Double-Headed Eagles to a mere 10-point output and a silver medal ending.

“Masaya kasi naka-contribute kami sa mga medal ng CSER, ipagpapatuloy lang namin ito,” Santos said.

On the other hand, the College of Education (COED) Blue Flames men’s team and the College of Business Administration (CBA) Magnates women’s team settled for bronze.

As the Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 ended, the beach volleyball players now look forward to the upcoming Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) and Angara’s cup.

REGU’S STINGS. The College of Industrial Technology (CIT) proved their sting as they rule over the College of Sports, Exercise, and Recreation (CSER) in the Men’s Sepak Takraw Tournament for this year’s BulSU Intramurals last October 19, at the Activity Center.

Photo by Nicole Jacinto

CIT Stingers tame CSER Stallions, 2-0, resume 6-year rule in Men’s Sepak Takraw

R

Dustin James Bayog & Rachel Hannah Beltran

eimposing their supremacy after the three-year pause, the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) Stingers once again dominated the Men’s Sepak Takraw after thrashing the College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions in a cruel 2-0 victory at the Activity Center, October 19.

Fueled with deep experience, the CIT Stingers finished the tournament untainted after sweeping the eliminations with 2-0

record, pushing the College of Business and Administration (CBA) Magnates out of contention, and clinched the eventual gold medal against the CSER Stallions.

They continued the six-year gold medal reign of CIT since 2019 Intramurals excluding the three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

| |03 13 “Pinagpatuloy lang namin ‘yung kung ano nasimulan ng CIT mula noon hanggang ngayon,” CIT Stingers spiker Joshua Abellanosa said.

The Stingers became aggressive in the half of opening regu as they exploded a 10-2 run, launching deadly bicycle kicks and aces to dictate the opening set in a convincing 15-10 lead.

Backed with their opponent errors, the CIT Stingers continued to bombard the defense of CSER Stallions penetrating their receiving pattern to seal the opening set in 21-12 lead.

Eager to win a set, the CSER Stallions took the early lead in the second set of first regu registering an ace and forced the CIT Stingers to commit errors in the service line, 9-7.

However, Stingers, led by their Tekong, Johnhart Badilla served two aces to tie the game, 9-9, followed by a quick sunback spike of Abellanosa to reclaim the lead, 10-9.

Both in a 10-10 deadlock, CIT Stingers began to pull their offensive mindset as Badilla pressured their defense with his effective horse kicks, giving their spiker Abellanosa more chance to attack, 14-11.

Their rampage progressed in the seesaw scoring battle of the second set as the CSER Stallions showed their grit on cutting the lead with a solid kick from JV Caballero followed by an error of CIT Stingers, 19-20, but Badilla fired a crucial ace to end their false hope in 21-19 sweep in the first regu.

Leaning on their steady momentum, the second team of CIT Stingers led by Justine Asibal flaunted his impressive sunback kicks in the second regu to dictate the game in 19-12 lead before CSER Stallions casted an error, ending the first set in 21-15 score.

Another CIT Stinger spiker, Rhanzel Velasco took care of business in the second set of second regu, flaunting caliber kicks through setter June Sale’s composed setting to pave the way for getting the championship, 21-14.

Stinger Tekong Justin Rogelio also showcased his excellent horse kicks to dismantle the defense of CSER Stallions recording eight service aces throughout the second regu and helped the team to be the overall champions.

“Masaya ako dahil nanalo kami sa intrams ng sepak takraw tournament at napakahirap man ng laban pero lahat naman binigay ng aming team para manalo at para makuha itong kampeon,” Abellanosa stated.

“Mahirap kasi kahapon nag-training kami tapos papasok nang maaga para lang mairaos ‘tong intrams,” he added.

Meanwhile, the CSER Stallions Coach John Robert Barretto promised that this will make their team improve more with proper conditioning of players to prepare for the next intramurals.

“Medyo maganda naman ‘yung preparation namin kasi nakuha naman namin ‘yung goal na maging silver kasi hindi na namin inaasahan ‘yung championship dahil legit na magva-varsity na sila.

Mga first year pa lang sila pero galing sila sa iba’t ibang bayan. Galing sila ng Occidental Mindoro, Quezon Province, at isang San Jose. Simula umpisa pa lang, tinatanggap na namin. Ang goal namin ay maging silver, ‘yun lang,” he said.

CIT Stingers, inungusan ang CSER Stallions, 56-50, itinanghal na kampeon sa Women’s Basketball

P

Anel Barja

inaluhod ng College of Industrial Technology (CIT) Stingers ang College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions nang magpakawala ng mga agarang opensa sa huling kuwarter upang maitarak ang 56-50 bilang pagkubra sa titulo ng women’s basketball ng Intramurals 2023 sa Activity Center, Oktubre 18.

Sumandal ang bataan ng CIT Stingers sa explosive duo na sina Jialyn Villacorte Antonio at Zhialyn De Jesus Rasgo nang magpaulan ng mga solidong atake at kumamada ng 23 at 11 puntos upang akayin ang kanilang koponan na madepensahan ang kanilang titulo noong Palarong Pampamantasan 2019.

“Hindi po namin inisip na matatalo kami sa arawaraw. Iniisip po namin na lagi kaming panalo sa araw-araw na may laban saka hindi po namin inisip na if ever na CSER sila, malakas sila, mas malakas po kaming CIT,” ani Antonio sa isang panayam.

Nagpasiklab agad ang CIT Stingers sa unang kuwarter nang makuha ang kalamangan sa likod ng mga impresibong layups upang iposte ang 18-9 panimula.

Bumuwelta ang CSER Stallions na sina Kyle Pascual at Chay Pagsanhan sa ikalawang kanto nang pumukol ng dalawang tres ngunit muling umariba ang CIT Stingers nang magkakasunod na puntos upang mapanatili ang kalamangan, 32-24.

Kasabay ang suporta ng mga manonood, pinilit makahabol ng CSER Stallions nang magsumite ng pitong puntos sa ikatlong yugto ngunit nanaig pa rin ang mga atake nina Antonio at Rasgo ng CIT Stingers at iabante ang iskor sa 42-32 bentahe.

Nagpang-abot ang dalawang koponan sa huling kwarter ngunit kinapos na ang opensa ng CSER Stallions na sinegundahan ng pinagsamang anim na puntos nina Mia David at Audrey Santiago ng CIT Stingers upang tuluyang iselyo ang laban tangan ang 56-50 kartada.

“Nu’ng una medyo kinabahan kami, kasi ‘yung first game namin hindi namin nakuha ‘yung laro. Hindi namin naipanalo tapos ‘yung nagkaharap ulit kami nu’ng katapat namin that time nakuha na namin so sabi namin sa second day babawi kami, so tuloy-tuloy yung pagbawi so na-instill sa mga players ko s’yempre yung pagkakaisa nila, ‘yung sportsmanship, kailangan iisa lang ‘yung goal nu’ng team. Which is ‘yung makuha namin ‘yung gold. ‘Yung laro talaga namin, inalay namin kay God,” ani coach Maria Angelita Caparas ng CIT Stingers.

“Saka takot din po kaming maagaw s’yempre ‘yung titulo ng champion sa CIT kaya ginawa po namin ‘yung pinaka-best namin sa larong ‘to,” dagdag naman ni Antonio.

Matagumpay na naitulak ng CIT Stingers ang CSER Stallions sa ikalawang puwesto habang nauna nang maiuwi ng College of Engineering (COE) Red Ants ang ikatlong puwesto

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

02| | 14

On Point: CSER Stallions snag 3 golds in archery

chemistry, lit the battleground—burning the CICT Firefox, CHTM Tigers, and CSER Stallions’ arrows in the men’s doubles and men’s team duo events.

Ma. Antonette Lucilla, Melchi Pagdanganan, & Xin Jedrick Ivan Musca

T

he College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions exited the four-day archery competition with three golds in their bags as they showcased their keen eye and skills for precision, besting the other 12 colleges in the event.

Out of seven events in archery, the Stallions reigned in mixed, duo, and women’s team events while the men’s team won another gold in the Olympic competition.

On these events, Irineo Maglanque Jr. of Stallions armed himself with blazing bows in the Olympics men’s event, raising his precisions continuously as he seized the range and defeated the CHTM Tigers’ Stevhen Manalo.

Manalo took home the silver, while Magnates’ Clark Basa professed the bronze medal.

“Hype na hype ako no’n kanina, eh.

Photo by Ma. Antonette Lucilla

Saka, tuwang-tuwa ako dahil siyempre, first time ko lang rin mag-gold sa buong paglalaro ko ng archery. Ano kasi ‘yan, eh, kahapon kasi lumaban ako sa doubles men, natalo kami ng first round so ang lagi kong iniisip, babawi ko ‘to kinabukasan. So ‘yon na nga, the resist is on,” Maglanque Jr. shared in an interview with Pacesetter.

Meanwhile, the COE Red Ants, who have interchanged ruling in the archery field with the Stallions, were a gold away from catching up with the fast hits of the latter but barely came up short, bagging only two golds against Stallions’ three, along with one bronze.

On the five events, the Red Ants’ Getardo Colocado Jr., and Reinan Russel Royz Halog, with a matchbox and matchstick-like

CSER tops Palarong Pampamantasan’23 baseball mound Nathaniel Valles & Mark Gabriel Musni Imposing an unmatched level of play in each of their game in the Palarong Pampamantasan 2023, the league-leaders College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions ended its campaign with another one-sided affair after they nabbed the gold medal in the baseball competition with an emphatic 11-1 victory over the Meneses Pink Eagles at the Bulacan Sports Complex, October 20.

The game began with both teams locked in a defensive battle, setting the stage for what would be a riveting contest. In the initial frame, it was a deadlock, with both Stallions and Pink Eagles managing to keep their opponents off the scoreboard.

However, it didn’t take long for the Stallions to showcase their offensive prowess. In the second inning, they surged ahead with a two-run lead, leaving the Pink Eagles struggling to mount a counterattack.

The momentum continued to swing in favor of the Stallions as they added three more runs in the third inning, extending their lead. The Pink Eagles found themselves unable to break through the Stallions’ formidable defense.

The Pink Eagles finally made their mark in the fourth inning, tallying a single run with their well-executed play. It was a glimmer of hope for the Pink Eagles, but the Stallions swiftly responded with two more runs of their own.

In the fifth and final inning, the CSER Stallions put the finishing touches on their commanding performance, adding four more runs to their total. The Pink Eagles, despite their efforts, found themselves unable to mount a comeback.

In a post-game dialogue, Coach Erika Arroyo of the Pink Eagles displayed unwavering pride in her team’s performance despite their loss. She stressed, “Hindi naman nagkulang ang team, nagbigay sila ng effort nila at best nila. Malakas lang talaga ang kalaban,” reaffirming the caliber of competition they faced.

Stallions astute Coach Jessie Reyes dissected the vulnerabilities of their vanquished counterparts. “Una sa pitcher, more on sa bolang binibigay ng pitcher. Pangalawa, wala rin silang base running. At pangatlo, ‘yung palo nila,” expounded Reyes, furnishing a comprehensive assessment of the factors that favored their team’s ultimate triumph.

Concurrently, COED Blue Flames danced the pressure away, proving that they had what it takes to overthrow their opponents, seizing the gold in the archery doubles women’s category over CS Wizards and CIT Blue Stingers.

Like an oasis, Angel Antopina’s triumph at the Olympics round (women) ended the drought for gold of the CHTM tigers, surmounting CIT Blue Stingers Torio and COED Blue Flames Gregorio.

“Para sa ’kin po very unexpected, hindi ko po talaga in-expect kasi ’yong mga kalaban po namin mga varsity, ganiyan saka mga maraming practice po sila,” Antopina said when asked about what she felt after bagging their college’s first gold for archery.

Furthermore, the COED Blue Flames, like the CHTM Tigers, managed to clinch a gold in the doubles women category while the CIT Stingers, CBA Magnates, and CS Wizards settled for their silver and bronze medals in different categories.

The exultant Stallions reveled in a championship conquest, having notched five consecutive victories. Nonetheless, Coach Reyes remained grounded, resolutely aiming for refinement. He noted, “I think, ‘yung palo pa rin. Mayroon pa ring kaunti pero at least nagagawan ng paraan,” exemplifying his commitment to perpetual honing.

Genesis Alfonso from the Stallions, in reflection, underscored their entitlement to an unblemished record, premised on their unwavering dedication in translating their training into game-time brilliance.

Meanwhile, the battle-for-third place witnessed the tenacious CIT Stingers overcoming the CICT Firefox, settling for a bronze finish.

Photo by Mariah Angelica Tolibas

| |03 15

Firefox devours Kingfishers, snatches 1st-ever MLBB championship title; Double-Headed Eagles win women’s via default

I

t was a triumphant competition run for the College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Firefox male team as they gobbled the Hagonoy Campus Kingfishers in the Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament championship round at the CICT AVR, October 19.

Proving to be a headache, the Firefox pulled off a convincing 3-1 victory to bag the championship crown on the first installation of MLBB on the Bulacan State University Intramurals.

John Paolo Gatdula forced the Kingfishers home to regain their HP, capturing the enhanced Lord for free.

The Firefox took the enhanced Lord to their advantage, flowing the minion waves on all lanes to pressure the third inhibitor turret. This made the Kingfishers’ defense susceptible to critical damage, leading to their loss.

In the opening match, CICT Firefox jungler Marion Joseph “Supermj” Capiral and roamer Lord Eiryll “Licht.” Tampoc handpicked an aggressive playstyle through an eminent combo of Fanny and Angela to supposedly rule the early game.

As the fourth game began, the Kingfishers snatched Firefox’s signature Fanny pick to establish an aggressive early game with three kills. Their aggressiveness continued until the mid-game power spike of Firefox kicked in. CICT Firefox John Michael “Callie.” Mempin’s Faramis saved his team with timely activation of the cult altar to finally smash the nails in the coffin, leaving no hope for Kingfishers to stay alive in the tournament.

However, the Kingfishers discerned loopholes in their opponents’ draft, choosing Mark Christian “Lits” Bautista’s Franco as their roamer to prioritize suppression of mobile heroes and Edmundo “Shameonyou” Raymundo Jr.’s Faramis for vicious retrieval of the team.

After the awarding, Firefox Team Captain and Gold Laner Charles Justine “Latreia” Taruc told Pacesetter, “Sobrang saya po kasi parang nasa history na po kami ng BulSU po eh dahil kami ang nag-champion sa pinakaunang esports event ng BulSU sa intrams.”

The game was filled with exchanges of kills, with Supermj’s 9-0-2 to lead the kill-death-assist (KDA) department, yet the four-man ganking prowess of the Kingfishers opened an opportunity to quirkily backdoor the base of the CICT Firefox.

On the other hand, the Bustos Campus Double-Headed Eagles MLBB female team won the grand finals crown with no effort as the CICT Firefox applied for a default loss due to sudden changes in the date.

After this first-game defeat, the Firefox recalibrated their playstyle to turn the tables around and clawed their way for three consecutive games to end the said tournament.

Originally, the date of the grand finals was scheduled for October 19, but it

The Firefox sustained their aggressive tactics coming into Game 2 by invading their rival’s jungles and breaking the turrets.

Kingfishers fought back with Joshua “;Glyph” Tamayo’s Beatrix Nibiru weapon, which dealt massive damage per second but fell short of the tanky lineup of the CICT. Supermj’s Akai impressively orchestrated a setup to slay two heroes from their competitor, leaving the Kingfishers with a flawed number of heroes to defend the base, ending with a 15-7 team kill.

The heat arose in the third game when a five-versus-five chaotic clash occurred in the Lord area. Players from both groups threw all the skills, inflicting impairment on their health bars, yet no casualties were tallied. However, Firefox successfully

Photo by Melchi Pagdanganan

was moved to October 20 because of delayed games. Thinking about the safety of the players, especially those who live far from school, the committee decided to reschedule the remaining games as it was already past six in the evening.

“Ayaw kong isakripisyo ‘yung safety ng mga bata para sa laro. E, kung mako-compromise naman ‘yung safety nila pag-uwi, ayon delikado rin naman. Kaya pinauwi ko na sila nang maaga,” Bryan Joseph Bautista, the tournament supervisor of MLBB said For this reason, the CICT Firefox female team could not attend the match as they were set to participate in the Regional Assembly on Information Technology Education (RAITE) in Pampanga on the said date.

“Since BulSU Main [Campus] ‘yung name na dala-dala ko do’n [sa RAITE], much better na bitiwan na lang ‘yung intrams,” the captain of CICT Firefox, Hazel Mae “Maejinx.”

Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, Double-Headed Eagles Team Captain Maria Sophia “SUPER SOPI” Valdizno said that they were not expecting to win by default.

“S’yempre masaya kami pero at the same time nanghihinayang kasi sayang ‘yung pinrepare namin for grand finals. Pero nice game pa rin sa dapat na nakalaban namin sa grand finals kasi binigyan nila kami ng magandang laban sa upper bracket,” she added.

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

02 || 16

TAEKWONDO 2023: Sarmiento Stars, humakot ng 12 medalya Sheila Natividad & Nazylen Mabanglo

Photo by Kier Angelo Cristobal

N

agningning sa rurok ng tagumpay ang Sarmiento Campus Stars matapos kumubra ng 12 medalya sa nagdaang Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 Taekwondo Tournament sa Waltermart Malolos, Oktubre 19.

Nagkamit ang Sarmiento Stars ng kabuuang apat na ginto, limang pilak, at tatlong bronze upang pamunuan ang halos walong dibisyon ng taekwondo laban sa 11 kolehiyo at external campuses.

Binubuo ang taekwondo ng walong

magkakaibang weight divisions: finweight, flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, at heavyweight sa parehas na men at women’s category.

Itinakas ng Meneses Campus Pink Eagles ang ikalawang puwesto nang makakuha ng walong medalya mula sa apat na ginto, isang pilak, at tatlong tanso habang nasa ikatlong puwesto ang College of Business Administration (CBA) Magnates na tumarak ng dalawang ginto at apat na pilak.

Kaugnay nito, sumungkit din ang College of Nursing (CON) White Knights at College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Green Ravens ng limang medalya sa nasabing palakasan.

Gayundin ang College of Engineering (COE) Red Ants, College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) Lex Libras na may apat na medalya, College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) Night Owls na may tatlo, College of Science (CS) Wizards at Bustos Campus Double-Headed Eagles na kapwa may dalawang medalyang naiuwi.

Hindi rin naman nagpahuli ang Hagonoy Campus Kingfishers, College of Education (COED) Blue Flames, College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Firefox, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) Rajahs, at College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM) Tigers na may tig-iisang medalyang naiuwi sa nasabing torneyo.

CSER rips COED to complete women’s volleyball sweep T

he College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) maintained a dominant performance throughout the tournament, capping it off with a lopsided victory over the College of Education (COED) in the finals, with scores of 25-14, 25-11, and 25-19 to secure the gold medal in the Intramurals 2023 Women’s Volleyball Finals at the Activity Center, October 20.

Leading up to this final match, the Stallions had an impressive record of 5-0 that mirrored the team’s eventual splendid playoff performance as their rivals found no answer for their potent offense-defense game.

“Sobrang saya po kasi ‘di rin po namin [expected] na makakapag-champion kami, dahil one week lang po ‘yung aming training. Ayun, sobrang saya po dahil nagkaisa po ‘yung team namin,” CSER Head Coach Mary Grace de Jesus said.

CSER controlled the pace early on by claiming the first set with a commanding lead 25-14. The remarkable triumph in the first set was not only a testament to CSER’s offensive strength but also highlighted the exceptional role of their team captain Camille Orozco in anchoring their defense.

Dave Samson & Lei Catiis

Orozco’s defensive prowess was evident the whole stretch as she skillfully plugged any hole in the team’s backline, preventing COED from making significant advances. Her outstanding leadership was also vital in ensuring that CSER’s defense remained impenetrable, setting the stage for an impressive performance in the subsequent sets.

“Ayun, sa awa ng Diyos lagi kaming nananalangin. Nanalo naman kami nu’ng quarter finals namin. Umarangkada kami nu’ng nanalo kami sa CBA, mas lalo kaming nabuhayan. Tapos nu’ng napanood namin naglaban ‘yung Bustos at COED. So walang kakaba-kaba, nakalaban namin ‘yung COED nu’ng finals, sure-win, 3-0,” said Captain Orozco when asked what they felt going into the finals match against COED.

dominance, effortlessly breaking away from the 1-point gap and ultimately securing their lead, sealing the fate of this thrilling encounter with back-to-back service aces.

In another match, Bustos Campus Double-Headed Eagles emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle against the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) Lex Libras, clinching the bronze medal in a thrilling contest with set scores of 25-19, 17-25, and 13-15.

Bustos’ athletic prowess was on full display as they mounted a second-set comeback, ultimately prevailing in a nail-biting third set to secure their place on the podium.

The Blue Flames showed unwavering determination as they desperately attempted to stage a comeback in the third set, facing a 2-0 deficit. With a remarkable 5-0 run, they narrowed the gap to just one point, holding the score at 18-17.

However, their aspirations were swiftly dashed as CSER demonstrated their

Photo by Charisse Alvarez

| |03 17

Stallions hold off Magnates, Firefox in football Arvin Migallos & Melchi Pagdanganan

Photo by Mariah Angelica Tolibas

T

he College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions showed their might once again after defeating the College of Business Administration (CBA) Magnates and

the College of Information Communications and Technology (CICT) Firefox in football during the Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 held at the Bulacan Sports Complex, October 17 to 19.

The Stallions showed the Magnates how business was done in their first game last October 17 as they kept on putting pressure on the latter’s goal with relentless attacks while putting up impressive defense to move one step closer to the gold medal, 3-2.

CICT gave CSER a hard time in their outing the next day, October 18, with both teams not allowing their opponents to score a point, but a handball violation in the dying minutes of the game cost the Firefox the chance to deny the Stallions from capturing the gold, 1-0. “’Yung naging preparation namin is ‘yung nag-start na ‘yung intrams. Nagamit naman nila ‘yung mga controls nila sa sepak.

Sa athletics, nagamit nila ‘yung bilis nila and endurance,” Coach Michael Artugue of Stallions said in a post-game interview.

Hagonoy campus goes undefeated in futsal Thessalonica Agulto & Luis Tolentino

T

he Hagonoy Campus Kingfishers left it all out on the pitch to pull off a perfect season in this year’s Palarong Pampamantasan men’s and women’s futsal held at the Activity Center, October 20.

The Kingfishers did not let anyone taint their record finishing off with a 6-0 slate as the team kept its composure in every situation they were in, be it in the widest of games or even in the clutchest moments.

Finishing the tournament strong, the Hagonoy Campus added another gold in their pocket, extinguishing the College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Firefox, 1-0 in the finals.

The crowd was on their feet when Kingfisher Jericko Rancho finally scored a goal, breaking the deadlock just a few minutes before the clock expired after a long exchange of fiery kicks that became the decisive point for Hagonoy to secure the futsal championship.

“Kasi ako ‘di ko na in-expect na makaka-goal ako, matatapos na ‘yung oras hinihintay ko na lang mag-penalty, sa penalty

kasi may tiwala ako sa sarili ko, pero ‘yung shot ko na ‘yon alam ko na binigay ko ‘yung best ko kaya sobrang tuwa ko,” he shared in a Pacesetter interview.

He also shared that all of their players have no background in the said sport, making this victory more special for the team.

After a neck-to-neck contest, CICT Firefox fell to a silver medal finish while Sarmiento Stars ended its campaign by winning bronze.

Artugue added that they bounced back from their last year’s loss by default and tried to do better for the pride of CSER. John Anthony Calolo, who scored CSER’s crucial penalty kick against CICT, said that he felt the pressure in that moment since their team needed to score at least one point to avoid a draw and secure an upright first place.

“Kabado kasi umaasa sa ‘kin. Crucial ‘yung game, e. Isa lang ‘yung kailangan namin para manalo saka final minutes na rin no’n,” Calolo said.

CICT and CBA went head-to-head in the last game of the football category, October 19, with the former emerging victorious in a commanding four-nil fashion.

Since only three teams competed in football, a point system was needed to complete the podium picture. Three points were awarded to the winner, zero for the losing team, and one point to both teams for an instance of a draw.

The women’s futsal game got off to a slow start with both teams failing to score in the first half, but Anchellene Alquino drew first blood for the Stallions and Jenevie Seguido then struck from close range to seal the Futsal crown.

“Actually, after ko po maka-goal nawala ‘yung super pressure ng whole team and we didn’t expect na pagkakalooban pa kami ng another score, ang lagi po kasing tinatatak sa isipan namin ay enjoy-in ang laro kaya ang ginagawa po namin ay ine-enjoy ang laro,” Alquino said.

The CBA Magnates sealed the second spot and the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) Lex Libras settled for bronze in the women’s category.

Meanwhile, the College of Sports, Exercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions futsal women’s team exhibited their prowess on the court, demonstrating remarkable coordination to win against College of Business and Administration (CBA) Magnates with a score of 2-0.

“Masaya po kasi ilang araw din po naming pinag-training-an, pinaghirapan ‘yung kung ano man po ‘yung nangyari ngayon,” Stallions’ goalkeeper Jhagie Camua said as she shared the hardships they went through to achieve the crown.

Photo by Charisse Alvarez

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE

02 || 18

BulSU crowns new King, Queen of Intramurals Felicia Joy Polecios

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he search is over as the new Mr. and Ms. Intramurals 2023 were crowned at Valencia Hall in Bulacan State University (BulSU) last October 16.

With overflowing charisma that left the crowd spellbound, Aaron Paul Francisco from the College of Information and Communications Technology and Jessa Lunar from the College of Education stood out among the 36 candidates of the pageant.

Along with the Mr. Intramurals title, Francisco also bagged the Cherub Choice award and Best Sportswear.

“Competing with 17 strong candidates was not easy, all of them were great kaya sobrang overwhelmed ako noong tinawag ako na Mr. Intramurals 2023, unexpected talaga ito pero sa tingin ko ay nasuklian lang [din] siguro iyong mga efforts ko para sa patimpalak na ito,” he said in an interview with Pacesetter.

On the other hand, Lunar, who also clinched the Ms. Love and Skin Ambassadress award, shared her excitement in representing her college despite the pressure.

“Lahat naman ng sumali ay magagaling, lahat kami ay nangibabaw du’n sa stage. Mabigat ‘yung pressure sa akin kasi kolehiyo na namin ang bitbit ko, pero masaya ako na napagtagumpayan ko ‘yon kasama sila,” she stated.

Meanwhile, John Ford Dela Peña from the College of Business Administration and Ara Pineda from the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management were hailed as first runners-up of the said competition.

PAUL FRANCISCO COLLEGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY (CICT)

JESSA LUNAR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (CoED)

CSER Stallions, kumubra ng 14 medalya sa Arnis Faith Raymundo & Ella Fabre

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“Apat na araw lang kami nag-training tapos komplikado pa ‘yung schedule namin. Minsan puwede ‘yung iba, tapos ako pa ‘yung head coach. So kapag bawal ‘yung coach namin, ako talaga ‘yung nag-aano [training] sa kanila,” dagdag pa niya.

Nag-uwi ang CSER Stallions ng pitong ginto, tatlong pilak, at apat na tansong medalya sa sampung weight division category ng patimpalak na naging daan upang dominahin ang men’s and women’s division.

Nagharap ang iba’t ibang kolehiyo at external campus sa sampung kategorya ng timbang sa arnis competition kung saan nagtagisan sila sa pinweight (47kg/below), bantamweight (+47-51kg), featherweight (+51-55kg), extra lightweight (+55-60kg), half lightweight (+60-65kg), lightweight (+65-71kg), half middleweight (+71-78kg), middleweight (+78-86kg), light heavyweight (+86-95kg), at panghuli ay ang heavyweight division (+95kg).

“[Isa itong] opportunity po kasi ang tagal ko nabakante sa laro tapos ngayon lang ulit. Tapos na-gold pa kaya nakakatuwa lang din,” ayon kay Maisy Lansang ng Bustos Campus Double-Headed Eagles.

2023-2024 ISSUE IN-CHARGE JOHN RHEY PIAMONTE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AMIEL ANTONIO

agpamalas ng husay at liksi ang College of Sports, Excercise and Recreation (CSER) Stallions Arnis Team nang tanghaling kampyeon sa kabuuan sa katatapos lang na men’s and women’s arnis padded stick competition para sa Palarong Pampamantasan 2023 sa Valencia Hall, Oktubre 17.

Hindi naman nagpahuli ang Hagonoy Campus Kingfishers na nagkamit ng dalawang gold, tatlong silver, at isang bronze medal pati na rin ang Bustos Campus Double-Headed Eagles matapos tanghalin bilang gold medalist ang dalawa nitong pambato sa lightweight division sa parehong men’s and women’s category; kasama nito, nag-uwi rin sila ng isang silver at dalawang bronze medal.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Kasama rin na nag-uwi ng gintong medalya ay ang College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Green Ravens, College of Education (COED) Blue Flames, at ang Meneses Campus Pink Eagles sa arnis women habang sa men’s ay nagwagi rin ang College of Industrial Technology (CIT) Stingers, CAL Green Ravens at ang Hagonoy Campus Kingfishers.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR DUSTIN JAMES BAYOG MANAGING EDITOR FOR ADMINISTRATION RACHEL HANNAH BELTRAN MANAGING EDITOR FOR FINANCE RON JERIC FAUSTINO ART DIRECTOR MYLENE LOVELYN TUMAMAK LAYOUT ARTISTS ANDREI SALALAC, LORA MARIE FULEROS, NIKA MALANCE PHOTOJOURNALIST COORDINATOR HENNESSY CHUA CIRCULATIONS MANAGER NATHANIEL VALLES WRITERS DUSTIN JAMES BAYOG, RACHEL HANNAH BELTRAN, FELICIA JOY POLECIOS, ELYJAH JANN ROSALES, JOHN PAOLO GATDULA, NATHANIEL VALLES, KRISTEL ANNE VADAL, LEI CATIIS, MELCHI PAGDANGANAN, DAVE SAMSON, JANNES MAGAYON, ANEL BARJA, MARK STEVEN CANO, RUSTOM RIZO, MIKAELA CALIXTO, LYKA RODRIGUEZ, JOHN JOSUA JUSI, ALLANA PARIÑO, HARVEY SABADO, MARK DAVID SILENCIO, SHEILA NATIVIDAD, MA. ANTONETTE LUCILLA, NAZYLEN MABANGLO, ARVIN MIGALLOS, THESSALONICA AGULTO, LUIS TOLENTINO, FAITH RAYMUNDO, ELLA FABRE, XIN JEDRICK IVAN MUSCA ILLUSTRATORS ELIAN MARU CARLOS, FRANCHESKA SAYO PHOTOJOURNALISTS LAWRENCE FRANCISCO, MYLENE LOVELYN TUMAMAK, NICOLE JACINTO, RON JERIC FAUSTINO, ANGELICA TOLIBAS, CHARISSE ALVAREZ, MELCHI PAGDANGANAN CONTRIBUTOR KIER ANGELO CRISTOBAL

Photo by Nicole Jacinto

ADVISER DR. ROMULO MERCADO JR.

OUR SOLIDARITY WILL SET US FREE