In a groundbreaking move for collegiate sports in the Philippines, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) held its first-ever Esports tournament, headlining fierce competitions in NBA 2K, Valorant, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

The UST Teletigers Esports Club (TGR) made their mark, showcasing their strength as the only university that secured podium finishes across all three games, with bronze in NBA 2K and silver in Valorant and ML: BB.

From the hardwood to the virtual court

Finishing as the third and fourth place, TGR’s NBA 2K team proves to be a powerhouse in the virtual court.

TGR’s main player for group A, Eryx Daniel Delos Reyes, tallied a 6-1 record in the elimination round and finished in rank one for their group.

Delos Reyes was only later defeated by DLSU Viridis Arcus ESports’ Kegan Yap in the semifinal round, 1-2. He then fought and secured the bronze medal in an all-UST battle for 3rd place after besting teammate Daemiel Argame, who was the substitute player for UST’s representatives in group B, 2-0.

"It was my first tournament in NBA 2K. Luckily, I got third place," the bronze medalist shared.

TGR’s group B’s main player, Gideon Del Val, along with Argame, breezed through the group stage, finishing as the top seed in their group, with Del Val not dropping a game, 4-0, and Argame finishing with a 3-0 slate for an ultimate 7-0 sweep.

After losing against Paolo Medina of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the semifinals and to Delos Reyes in the Battle-for-Bronze, Argame looked back at the connections he made along the way.

"The three of us, along with Gideon Del Val, fought through improving on the game and trying to perfect it as much as we possibly can," Argame added.

Despite not playing in the playoffs due to their coach’s decision, Del Val told TomasinoWeb that for him, being undefeated in the elimination rounds alone was an achievement in itself.

“It’s not as good as a medal, but I want to think of it as a win for myself,” he said.

Valiant Silver

TGR’s Valorant team entered the UAAP esports tournament with relentless preparation, practicing daily and studying their well-known opponents to craft effective counter-strategies.

Despite not dropping a single map in the elimination round and concluding with a silver-medal finish, Damien Santos, a player from TGR’s Valorant Team, held his head up high and is hungry for his next possible stint if given the chance again.

Santos also acknowledged the traits he gained, which helped him in both esports and academic-related activities. "The organization helped me develop social skills and self-confidence that I did not know I could achieve," he said.

For him, the opportunity to represent UST in such a prestigious competition was a dream realized.

“Being able to play competitively is my lifelong dream that started when I was still young. Representing and playing for one of the top universities in the Philippines at this age was something na hindi ko naisip na magagawa ko, but I am so happy that I was given this chance,” Santos told TomasinoWeb.

Sacrifices that suffice

TGR’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team also settled for a silver medal after an upset from the UE Zenith Warriors in the championship round.

They had already defeated UE Zenith Warriors in the elimination round via sweep, 2-0.

Team captain Arjohn Roxas expressed a sense of dismay about their finish: “We won silver and on a personal level, sobrang disappointed ako sa sarili ko kasi alam kong kaya namin i-champion yun... Pero as a team, masaya ako na nakapag silver kami,” he told TomasinoWeb.

Roxas highlighted the challenges they faced, including disrupted practices due to team conflicts and lineup changes. After losing three key players, they had just two weeks to build chemistry and did their best, making sacrifices along the way. Despite the struggles, Roxas expressed pride in being the only school to podium in all three divisions.

“Hindi porket podium kami sa lahat ng games ngayong season makakampante na kami… So kahit na historic yun, it-try namin sa upcoming seasons na makuha yung immortal run na lahat ng game titles is makukuha namin yung gold,” he shared.

The future of Esports for UST and beyond

The Teletigers' historic performance in the UAAP's first-ever esports tournament has set a new benchmark for future competitions. The players believe that this milestone will open doors for more opportunities in the esports scene, both within the Philippines and internationally.

Delos Reyes emphasized what this tournament could bring to the esports scene in the Philippines. "It can help our Philippine teams in the upcoming international tournaments and can engage more people in esports," he said, underscoring the potential impact of collegiate esports on the national stage.

Santos echoed this sentiment, noting the potential for increased recognition and support for esports in the country.

“Since nagkaroon na ng first ever UAAP esports tournament sa Pilipinas, magkakaroon na siguro ng acknowledgement yung esports scene dito,” the silver medalist stated, expressing hope for greater appreciation and support for esports.

TGR’s ML: BB Team Captain Roxas told TomasinoWeb that he thinks that the UAAP should also add other kinds of games, but for now, he believes that they should focus on making the tournament format systematic.

“UAAP, in general, did their best to make the event possible and we’re super grateful for that,” Roxas added.

The UAAP's inclusion of esports in its roster of competitions is a significant step forward for the industry. As more students get involved, the esports scene in the Philippines is poised for growth. The Teletigers' achievements will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of esports athletes, paving the way for a bright future in competitive gaming.-Kurt Russel Vincent Miranda