Layout by: Carmelo Padernal
Published by: Sheewn Kenzie Fernandez
Date Published: April 1, 2025
Time Published: 6:00 PM
Buy 1, Take 2.
Teams from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strand of Lyceum of Alabang, namely Teknolohistas, with 5.40 points, clinched 1st place, while Syntax Squad, with 4.58 points, captured 2nd place in the CodeX competition at Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (MMCL) on Saturday, March 29.
Meanwhile, CINHS Archytas from Cabuyao Integrated National High School secured 3rd place in the competition.
Teknolohistas, composed of Kurt Stanley Joe Metra, James C. Giega, and Will Diether R. Arinsol, while Syntax Squad was made up of Kylon D. Loresca, Jaycelyn A. Naca, and Meakyla Jane C. Saw.
THE WINNING FORMULA FOR TEKNOLOHISTAS
Reflecting on the victory, Kurt Stanley Joe Metra, leader of Teknolohistas, credited the win to his teammates, James C. Giega and Will Diether R. Arinsol, emphasizing their outstanding performance.
"I think what set our team apart from the others was that each of us had our own departments where we excelled," Metra said.
"Will definitely had his own sort of expertise in mathematics, and I could see his abilities at their best when solving problems involving mathematical algorithms. Frankly, mathematics is one of those fields I struggle with, so Will alone was already a big help and a huge contribution to our final ranking," he cited.
Metra also highlighted Giega’s role, as he displayed quick and analytical thinking throughout the competition.
As for how it felt to win, he described the moment as overwhelming yet rewarding. "I promised my teachers and my section—with a little bit of overconfidence—that I would win them 1st place," he admitted.
"That put a lot of pressure on me, but it was alleviated once I got to know both of my teammates better," Metra added.
Being the first placer had been Metra's goal for over a year, and expressed deep appreciation for his teammates, saying he wouldn’t hesitate to go through the experience again, as it was one of the best moments of his life.
Metra, with five years of programming experience, combined his logic with Giega's analytical skills and Arinsol’s mathematical expertise, creating a powerhouse trio that cracked the code to victory.
"The very spot that I've been striving for over a year now… I couldn't ask for a better lineup of teammates. If I had to go through it all over again? I would, ten times over," he expressed.
However, even for the champions, victory wasn’t easy. Arinsol revealed that they faced difficulties in the second half of the competition.
"Although we built a point lead in the first half, we struggled to maintain it," Arinsol said.
"To maximize our chances, we split up the remaining tasks among ourselves to generate solutions. While we didn’t fully solve some of them, we still earned partial points, which ended up being crucial for securing the win," he added.
SYNTAX SQUAD'S REDEMPTION.EXE
Despite a rocky start, the team found a way to turn their struggles into a second-place finish.
Naca shared that their coaches had trained them to assign specific roles to each member, a strategy designed to maximize efficiency and avoid wasting time.
"In the first set, we struggled with communication and were nervous, which led to us finishing in 5th place," Naca admitted.
The team’s ability to quickly assess their weaknesses and adjust their strategy played a crucial role in their success. Instead of letting their initial performance discourage them, they used it as motivation to come back stronger.
"But after discussing our mistakes and figuring out how to improve, we went into the second round more prepared. We communicated better, focused, and didn’t let distractions affect us," she said.
"That made all the difference," Naca added.
BEHIND THE VICTORY
Behind every great team is a group of dedicated mentors who help shape their success.
Mr. Jefferson Morales, Engr. Rynl Jude Jusi, and the ICT strand head, Mrs. Rosalyn Escudero, were the driving force behind Teknolohistas and Syntax Squad, equipping them with the skills and confidence to excel in the competition.
For Metra, winning 1st place was an unforgettable moment. "The excitement and thrill of hearing our team’s name announced? The adrenaline rush? It’s indescribable," he shared.
CodeX is an annual inter-Senior High School (SHS) coding competition hosted by MMCL, designed to challenge students in problem-solving, algorithm development, and programming efficiency.
No comments:
Post a Comment