08/08/2026
ICAS Soaring Eagles Soar to Silver Despite Exhausting Road to the Finals
ICAS Soaring Eagles secure silver for the second straight time at the Athletic Meet 2026 after a grueling semifinal battle and a championship game played without enough time to recover.
The ICAS Soaring Eagles have once again proven their strength and resilience, capturing the silver medal in the 5x5 basketball competition of the Athletic Meet 2026.
Although they fell short of the championship, their journey to the finals was anything but ordinary.
The Soaring Eagles battled DepEd Cupang NHS - Antipolo City twice in the semifinals, emerging victorious in both games and earning their place in the championship match. The back-to-back games, however, took a heavy physical toll on the ICAS players. Several players were already exhausted, while others suffered sprains and injuries during the intense semifinal contests.
The situation became even more challenging when Cupang gave up its third-place spot to DepEd Tayo Mayamot NHS - Antipolo City without playing. While Mayamot was able to secure third place without having to go through another game, the ICAS players were left with little to no time to recover after their exhausting semifinal battles.
Instead of getting the rest their bodies desperately needed, the Soaring Eagles were required to return to the court for the finals on the same day.
The decision by the Athletic Unit Meet of Unit 1 committee to finish the competition that day meant that ICAS had to play the championship game while carrying the fatigue and injuries accumulated from the semifinals.
But the Eagles did not make excuses.
They stepped onto the court and gave everything they had.
Despite the physical disadvantage, the players continued to fight for their school, their teammates, and everyone who believed in them. They knew they were facing the defending champions, San Benildo, under difficult circumstances, but they refused to surrender.
The circumstances may have favored the fresher side, but the Soaring Eagles showed that heart cannot be measured by how much rest a team gets.
They fought until the final whistle.
And while the championship trophy went to San Benildo, ICAS walked away with something that cannot be taken away โ respect.
The Soaring Eagles once again demonstrated that they are one of the teams that every contender must beat on the road to the championship. Their silver medal is their second consecutive silver finish, a testament to the consistency, competitiveness, and character of the team.
For ICAS, this was more than a battle for gold.
It was a battle against exhaustion.
A battle against injuries.
A battle against limited recovery time.
And most importantly, a battle to never give up.
Congratulations, ICAS Soaring Eagles!
You may have finished with silver, but your performance showed that you are still among the biggest obstacles standing between any team and the championship.
San Benildo may remain the defending champion, but the Soaring Eagles have made one thing clear: before anyone can claim the crown, they must first be ready to face ICAS.
Soar high, Soaring Eagles. The silver may shine today, but the fight for gold continues.
Congratulations also to
School Administrator Doc Meg Intalan
ICAS Sports coordinator Romar Suyat
Coaches
Jerome Sy Cardeรฑo
John Lloyd Cedrix Bataller
