SJI Debaters in the Diliman AP Debate online

In May, eight of our debaters from Debate CAS represented SJI in the Diliman AP Debate online. The Diliman AP Debate is run and hosted by University students in the Philippines and is used as a warm up to one of the biggest AP competitions in the world. It draws many international teams and adjudicators from across Asia and Australia. This is the first time SJI has participated in it.

Showing grit and perseverance through two days and five rounds starting from 8:00am and finishing around 7:00pm, the students did SJI proud. They were accompanied online by Ms Dorcas Tirhas and Coach Harish. SJI Team Phoenix Rising, made up of Patrick Nott (MN516), Tricia Chang (FN604) and Jedidiah Eo (MN519), broke through to the Novice Finals despite losing their first two rounds. They won their last two rounds, propelling them into the Novice Finals, in which they stepped up confidently to the plate and came out as Champions for the Novice Category. Additionally, the judges unanimously named Patrick as the 'best speaker'. They are part of the team competing at the upcoming MIDCs.

The second team, SJI Team Avengers, made up of Year 6s, Jamie Lam (MN616), Hu Muyu (MN617) and Wong Rui Yik (MN619). Team Avenger’s won 1 round and lost 3, 2 of which were by very narrow margins. To his credit, Rui Yik ranked #8 in the speaker rankings in the novice category, the highest from our SJI contingent. We also fielded 2 students as judges, Dhakshesh Vijay (FN502) and Xavier Kwek (ML514).

Congratulations, Josephians!