Ateneo White is open grand champ of World Schools Debating League Asia

Ateneo White, the team composed of Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS) debaters Daniella Barbacena (12-Anchieta), Ira Concepcion (12-Navarro), Aliah Garcia (12-Holland), Aliyah Herlihy (12-Anchieta), & Eliana Lim (12-Oldcorne), was recently crowned open grand champion of the World Schools Debating League (WSDL) Asia Fall 2022. The win marks a three-peat championship for the ASHS, which retains the crown after winning the title in WSDL’s 2020 and 2021 seasons as well.

Meanwhile, the Ateneo Blue team - composed of ASHS students Pio Ventura (12-Xavier), Kristen Reyes (11-Fontoura), Jasmin Ang (11-Nakaura), Kiel Mirandilla (11-Hurtado), & Sam Tango (11-Torres)- gracefully ended its run as WSDL’s open grand finalist after losing to Ateneo White in a 3-2 split in the finals.  

ASHS also dominated the speaker rankings, taking home 8 out of 15 speaker awards, inclusive of the Overall Best Open Speaker and the Overall Best Junior Speaker awards. Aliah Garcia was awarded as Overall Best Open Speaker, Jasmin Ang as Overall Best Junior Speaker & 2nd Best Open Speaker, Ira Concepcion as 3rd Best Open Speaker, Kiel Mirandilla as 5th Best Open Speaker, Pio Ventura as 6th Best Open Speaker, Kristen Reyes as 7th Best Open Speaker, and Daniella Barbacena as 9th Best Open Speaker.

The World Schools Debating League (WSDL) Asia Fall 2022 was held online on September 7, 14, 21, & 28, October 19 & 26, and November 2 & 19, 2022, attracting debate teams from various institutions and regions in Asia.