ASHS Debaters sweep Cambridge Asia Championships

Competing against debaters from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School contingent swept the prestigious Cambridge Asia British Parliamentary (BP) Southeast Asia Championships held on December 18 -19, 2021. And for the third time and second year in a row, two teams from Ateneo de Manila SHS have qualified for the annual Cambridge Schools Finals Day to be held in Cambridge, England. The team of Naomi Ang (12-Miki) & Anton Abiera (12-Bobola) was crowned the tournament’s Open Champion, with Naomi Ang being recognized as Open Finals Best Speaker. The team was also the Top Open Break, qualifying for the Cambridge Finals Day. Meanwhile, the team of David Bejarin (12-Grodecky) & Johann Bernardo (12-Bobola) ended its spectacular run as Open Finalist and also qualified for the Cambridge Finals Day as the 2nd Open Break. The tandem of Daniella Barbacena (11-Bellarmino) & Aliah Garcia (11-Hoyos) was the 8th Open Break and made it to the Open Finals as well. As for the other individual speaker awards, Ang, Bejarin, and Bernardo figured in a three-way tie as the tournament’s Overall Best Speakers, while Abiera was named 4th Best Speaker.