By Adrianne Lorenzo Corpuz

The most-anticipated cultural and sporting event in the university commenced on November 6 to November 10, hosting at least 33 listed sports competitions, and 13 cultural events. 

With a staggering 53.51 tallied overall points, the College of Engineering Maroons are again hailed as the overall champions, announced in the closing ceremonies of this year’s University Games. 

This is their 9th time being unsurpassed in the overall category.  

The again overall champs have bested all their rival colleges in Baseball, Beach Volleyball women’s division, men’s and women’s divisions in Chess, E-sports women’s division, Lawn Tennis women’s division, Softball, men’s and women’s divisions in Table Tennis. They are also hailed as the champions in charcoal rendering, live band competition, and street dance hip hop competition. 

Meanwhile the College of Teacher Education Rabbis retained their cultural championship title, making it their 3rd year of reign in that category. They also maintained their first runner-up stature last year with 42.73 overall points, a minute difference from the third placers, College of Industrial Technology with a trailing 42.58 points.

College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy Eagles accumulated 33.88 points, which earned them the 4th place in overall rankings, followed by the College of Health Sciences Knights on their impressive 5th place finish with 26.38 points.

The succeeding colleges after the fifth place are as follows: College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development Tamaraws (21.55), College of Arts and Sciences Wizards (19.02), College of Computing and Information Sciences Phoenix (11.60), and College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology Blue Marlins (10.01).

With the theme, “Unflinching,”During the closing ceremonies,  VPAA Prima Franco expressed her admiration to the student-athletes who serve as the great foundation of the university’s unparalleled sport and cultural dominance in the region. “We have realized that the MMSU Unigames is indeed the biggest event in terms of displaying willpower, talent, and team spirit",” the Vice President remarked.

She also noted the ambition of the university to transcend the borders of SCUAA and reach the levels of SEA Games and other international sports and arts competitions. 

In his own message, CHuMS director Professor Ryan Sugcang extended his appreciation to the unsung heroes of the UniGames, thanking the members of the faculty, staff, and students who worked relentlessly to complete such event. 

The University Games serves as MMSU’s sporting crucible for the annual regional competitions, which means that athletes who championed their events will be bannering the green and gold colors in the upcoming SCUAA-I. (JVBT, StratCom)