Consequences Of Betrayal.

The competitors themselves don't know the true effect of the first Sage's speech. After all, they are but ignorant pups. The competitors are held by their hands and guided to greatness. They have footsteps that have been highlighted for them to follow. So the guardians are the ones in control. 

If the first Sage wants the competitors to be compelled to try their best, then all he has to do is convince the bloodlines who are the guardians. The bloodlines will do what he wants. Some of those bloodlines remember the experience of following him to battle. They remember the pain and the comradery. They remember what it means to be battle sage monkeys.