September 15, 2023
by Arbe Jay S. Polancos
In the 21st century, the definition of sports rapidly evolved from being mere physical and strenuous activities or competitions to “playing” behind a desktop, a joystick, or a mobile phone. Since then, it has been part of the evolution of tradition to include esports as one of the events in an institution’s intramural. It could be FPS (first-person shooter) games, fighting games, MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) games, and MMORPG (massive[ly] multiplayer online role-playing games). This year, the Asian International School of Aeronautics and Technology (AISAT) intends to add more games for the students to enjoy, have fun, and compete with.
The first game that was planned to be added was Tekken, a fighting game created by Bandai Namco. This game requires two (2) players to fight against one another. The version of the game is Tekken 7, which will be played using a PlayStation 4 in AISAT’s game room. Four (4) teams will vie for the ultimate champion.
Another mobile game to be added is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a MOBA game by Montoon where 10 players from two (2) teams fight head-on using their unique chosen heroes with both team’s main objective to destroy the opposing team’s base. Like Tekken, the Blue Warthogs, Orange Apache, Red Nighthawks, and Green Osprey will fight quite literally to prove who the best team is.
It is worth mentioning that last year’s intramural (2022) only had two (2) esports events: Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) and Valorant, which according to some students, was lackluster. Gladly, the Supreme Student Council (SSC) with the guidance of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) decided to add other games to make the intramural active and lively as possible since there are a lot of students who are gamers and aficionados as well.
For physical sports, two (2) new sports competitions were planned to be played as well: duckpin bowling and sepak takraw. In previous years, sepak takraw was part of the sports to be played during the intramural. However, after the pandemic, there were changes in the list of sports to be played, and sadly, last year, sepak takraw was removed, and frankly, quite forgotten and not given importance. Luckily, this year, the sports committee exerted extra effort in including the game for the intramural. According to Mr. Karl James B. Confesor, a graduating AMT student and an avid athlete of the game, winning countless matches since senior high school states:
“bringing back the sport brings so many memories. I actually was devastated last year upon knowing that sepak takraw was not included but now that they’re planning to include it again, I am stoked. I have to be ready.”
For those unfamiliar with the sport, it is played between six (6) players from two (2) different teams with three (3) players per team. It’s like volleyball, but only exclusively using the lower extremities- feet, ankle, knees, and soles. You could also use your head as well. The competition is set to be played at the Homitori parking lot.
Duckpin bowling is a new game planned to be included in the intramural. Although it is the first time that students will play this sport, it is not unfamiliar to them since it is one of the games they were required to play in their PE classes. The games, however, will be played in a third-party venue, which is Doverlanes.
Coincidently, all the sports mentioned above regardless of their nature are set to be played during the first day of the intramural, as part of the pre-games.
May the best team win!