Rivals Ateneo and DLSU flexed their respective muscles in the UAAP Season 87 Esports scene, ruling the NBA 2K, VALORANT, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) competitions.
Rivals Ateneo and De La Salle dominated the UAAP Season 87 esports turf, imposing their might in the three major competitions.
The Katipunan-based squad conquered the NBA2K tournament again, while the Taft-based school reigned supreme anew in VALORANT on top of clinching its first title in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) scene.
Ateneo clinched back-to-back titles in the UAAP NBA 2K25 tournament thanks to a commanding 2-0 sweep of the UST Teletigers Esports Club.
Luis Jovallenos struck first for the Blue Eagles before Paolo Medina sealed the crown in Game 2 to cap off an undefeated 5-0 campaign.
“It means the world to me knowing that I did it with my teammates. I feel like this feeling of winning is way more satisfying than it was when I did last year, knowing that I did it with the efforts of my team behind me, knowing that Luis came up clutch in Game 1 in that overtime thriller,” Medina said in the post-game press conference.
For this year, UAAP decided to adopt the "Play Now" game mode but Ateneo was able to adjust and preserve their top dog status in the tournament.
Adamson and DLSU, meanwhile, rounded up the podium finish.
Much like Ateneo, the Green Aces defended their title in the VALORANT turf after sweeping FEU.
DLSU banked on its championship degree to dismiss a gritty FEU challenge via a 13-10, 13-10 triumph.
[ALSO READ: DLSU sweeps FEU in Valorant Finals, wins second straight title]
Skipper Xavier Juan bagged the Finals MVP honors after delivering in crunchtime that helped DLSU’s gutsy comebacks in Games 1 and 2.
“We almost lost talaga against FEU, so I needed to step up and then we pulled through. Our team did great, and I think everyone is an MVP also,” Juan admitted.
The UP Fighting Maroons and Ateneo Blue Eagles each claimed the bronze medals.
Meanwhile, the Green Aces rallied late to complete a clutch 2-1 reverse sweep over National U to rule the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament.
After dropping the opener of the best-of-three Finals series, DLSU regrouped behind stellar performances from Gabriel Sanchez (Claude), Ryu Godoy (Gatotkaca), and Finals MVP Aaron Lim (Kimmy) to avenge their group stage loss to NU earlier.
"Masaya ako (sa MVP award) pero kasi hindi naman ako mag-e-MVP kung hindi dahil sa teammates ko. Team effort siya," Lim spoke about his accolade.
After missing the Final Four entirely last season despite being tagged as favorites, De La Salle was able to live up to the billing this time around.
FEU and UST, meanwhile, rounded up the podium finish.