IT WAS a normal Sunday morning on October 21, but a nervous excitement was in the air among the 23-man (and 2 women) delegation, comprised of the XU Crusaders Men’s basketball team and Ms. Mona Pangan of the Campus Ministry Office.

The team, who has been supported since 2016 by several alumni and sponsors like Mayor Oscar S. Moreno of Cagayan de Oro City and Mayor James Manabilang of the Municipality of Amai Manabilang, was on their way to Marawi City for a friendly game against the MSU Sultans.

This was going to be the first game between the two teams to be played at MSU Campus, and the first time for most of the team to set foot on Marawi City. It was also the first time since Marawi City was declared liberated that the MSU community felt an anticipation for a social event.

Upon arriving in the city, the delegation was led through the temporary shelters for those who have been displaced by the siege, including that of the blue-roofed community that was adopted by Xavier Ateneo.

The delegation’s guides, led by MSU Sultans Head Coach Joseph Layao, also gave a quick glimpse of the area known as “ground zero”, where evidences of the siege were very much visible in the bullet-pocked walls of the buildings.

“Mura mi ug nag sakit unya inyo ming gibisita, ug mura sab ug gabalik among kusog tungod sa inyong pagbisita,” he says. The team was in awe of such sight, and it was difficult not to feel overwhelmed and emotional while observing the ruins.

After lunch at the Ayala Resort Hotel, the delegation proceeded to the Dimaporo gym inside MSU campus for the pre-game ceremonies.

A crowd of several hundred greeted both teams, and definitely took away all the anxiety that the delegation felt, as the warm welcome from the home crowd was such a powerful and humbling feeling.

“We support sports because it will make you a better person,” says Vice President for Administration and Finance Atty. Jamaloden Basar in his welcome speech.

In response, XU cager Dario Piatti said, “We know that this is bigger than basketball and we want to send a message to the rest of Mindanao, the country, and even to the whole world.”

To add, center Markus Cezar Tongco said, “As ambassadors of the XU Ateneo University, and as fellow Filipinos, we are here to support and acknowledge that gabangon na ang Marawi and that it is a safe place.”

And with a simple yet significant ceremonial toss, Marawi opens itself again to the world--this time, battle-tested and stronger.