Photo Courtesy: UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Paolo Barcelon
UE Zenith Warriors take inaugural UAAP MLBB title
The University of the East joins DLSU and Ateneo as the first three schools which will bag home a UAAP esports title.
This, after the UE Zenith Warriors defeated University of Santo Tomas (UST)’s Teletigers Esports Club in a sweeping 2-0 victory on Wednesday at Hyundai Hall, Arete Ateneo in Quezon City.
That wrapped up the league's inaugural Esports tournament, where Ateneo earlier ruled the NBA2K24 while De La Salle topped VALORANT.
Despite a rocky start in the group stages, UE’s playing coach, Arohn Jen Cabigting, expressed confidence, especially during the championship match.
"Very confident kami na kaya namin ang UST, specially nung group stages. Marami lang talaga kaming mga miscommunication na kinailangan namin ayusin. Hindi rin overconfident kasi alam namin kung gaano sila kagaling, alam namin yung capabilities nila. Nagfocus lang kami sa alam naming way kung pano manalo," said Cabigting, a 21-year-old civil engineering student.
Head coach Jon Benedict Sampang, a freshman BS IT student at UE, was overcome with emotion following the tournament’s dramatic ups and downs.
"Sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi nareunite kami pong players saka coach sa team. Di ko na talaga maexplain yung nararamdaman ko. Naiyak na lang talaga ako," he shared.
In Game 1, Ariel Dolar (Lancelot) turned the match in UE’s favor by outplaying UST’s Wayne Valentino (Roger).
Dolar shut down Valentino’s maniac killing streak and secured the 15th-minute lord. John Lawrence Chavez (Faramis) then contributed two kills in the subsequent team fight, leading to a game-winning 4-1 trade and a 1-0 lead for UE.
UE maintained their precision in Game 2, capitalizing on UST’s risky 12th-minute turret siege. The resulting 3-0 wipe, with kills from Dolar, Chavez, and Ryan-Ver Federizo, proved decisive.
The Zenith Warriors then executed a base turret siege in the bottom lane during the next sequence, securing the championship.
Chavez, who was named MVP of Game 1, was also honored as the Chowking Kakaibang Player of the Tournament.
"Very proud po yung teammates ko sa pagka-MVP ko. Nagkakaron kami actually ng joke within the team kung sino yung makakakuha ng MVP. Pero nagulat ako. Di ko talaga siya inaasahan na magiging MVP ako," said Chavez, a third-year tourism student at UE.
UE’s journey to victory was marked by resilience.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Season 87 Media Team
After an opening 2-0 loss to the Teletigers, the Zenith Warriors were on the brink of elimination in the group stage. They rebounded by defeating the Adamson University Falcons and delivering a crucial performance to secure a 1-1 split with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, earning the last playoff spot.
In the semifinals, UE, also represented by John Zel Bartolo and Elijah Vilaray, overcame a tough series against top-seeded Far Eastern University. By employing clever pocket picks, they achieved a 2-1 reverse sweep to reach the finals.
UST, consisting of Arjohn Roxas, Benjamin Lukban, Rammuell Belga, Angel Saliuan, and Jose Odfina, had an impressive run, finishing the group stage with a perfect 6-0 record. The Teletigers continued their dominance with a 2-0 sweep of National University in the semifinals.
In the other events, Ateneo de Manila University's Paolo Medina clinched the NBA2K crown last week, followed by De La Salle University’s undefeated run to the title in the VALORANT tournament, which concluded on Friday.
The Teletigers qualified for the playoffs in all three tournaments, finishing with two silver medals and one bronze.
The Tamaraws Esports, represented by Benedict Ablanida, Jordan Eder, Dashmielle Farin, Kevin Reyes, Micole Wage, and Paolo Sanchez, also earned bronze medals in the UAAP Esports ML:BB tournament, alongside National University.
The Bulldogs were led by Rendell Bangsal, Harold Blas, John Ver Gerez, Angel Christian Ico, Robby Miguel Martin, and John Prince Paculan.
News
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is pushing a landmark plan to open government-run golf courses to children aged 15 and below—completely free of charge.
Initiated by PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, the proposal would give youth access to select courses, including Camp John Hay in Baguio and Intramuros Golf Club in Manila, starting at noon daily, seven days a week.
The plan, now with the Office of the President, awaits approval as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. consults with golf industry stakeholders.
While some military-run courses may resist concerns about income and congestion, Gregorio believes the long-term benefits for grassroots golf outweigh the drawbacks. “If we want golf to grow, we have to let more Filipino kids touch a golf club—not just the ones who can afford it,” he said.
With golf’s high costs limiting access, the PSC hopes the initiative will spark broader participation, open doors to scholarships, and develop future champions from all backgrounds.
The Philippine women’s softball team—the Blu Girls—are eyeing nothing less than gold as they prepare to defend their title at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.
After softball’s two-edition absence from the SEA Games, head coach Ana Santiago said the team’s hunger for victory remains undiminished. “Nothing less than gold ang goal natin,” Santiago declared, recalling the Blu Girls’ last gold win at home in 2019.
A dominant force since 1979, the Blu Girls have collected 11 SEA Games golds and are returning as favorites. Team captain Charlotte Sales and power hitter Roma Cruz, both SEA Games debutantes, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness, especially after a productive training camp in Taiwan.
“Malaking bagay ‘yung training camp namin. Nakatulong sa teamwork, communication, and ‘yung samahan,” Sales shared.
Cruz, who smashed five homers at the Asian Cup in China last July, is determined to prove herself on the SEA Games stage. “Gusto ko ipakita na kaya ko makipagsabayan,” she said.
While the Blu Girls topped Indonesia for gold in 2019, Santiago sees Singapore as this year’s biggest threat, citing their extensive preparations in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.
The Philippines opens against Singapore on December 15, then faces Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia before the gold medal game on December 20.
Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president John Henry Lhuillier’s marching order is clear: go for double gold in both women’s and men’s softball. “That’s the goal,” Santiago affirmed.
Cambodia has withdrawn from eight sports in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand due to security concerns amid ongoing border tensions, an Olympic official confirmed last November 27.
The decision comes after intermittent military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand throughout the year, including a deadly July outbreak that left over 40 people dead.
Despite a US-brokered truce, diplomatic strains remain.
The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) informed the Southeast Asian Games Federation that it would skip events such as football, petanque, wrestling, judo, and karate, citing “significant security concerns” for its athletes and officials.
NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun emphasized that the move was strictly about safety, reducing the delegation from 333 to 150 athletes competing in 13 sports.
The pullout is aimed at making monitoring easier amid heightened tensions over overlapping claims to ancient temples along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
The Philippines will field its largest-ever delegation for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, sending 1,600 athletes, coaches, and officials to compete in 50 sports at the biennial meet during the 33rd 2025 send-off at Rizal Memorial Coliseum held last November 28.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the decision to send a record-sized team was rooted in prioritizing exposure and athlete development over immediate results
“When you send a delegation, they learn. When you send a big delegation, they gain confidence and experience,” Gregorio said. “We want our athletes’ mindset and skills to toughen up so they can compete at the Asian Games and the Olympics.”
The 2025 SEA Games will feature 574 medal events, three demonstration sports—air sports, flying disc, and tug of war—and MMA as a value-added sport.
Gregorio emphasized that investing in athletes’ experience now lays the groundwork for future success. “We’re giving our athletes the exposure they need to compete better in the future,” he said.
The Philippines will target podium finishes in medal-rich sports including basketball, esports, boxing, weightlifting, jiu-jitsu, and athletics when the SEA Games open on December 9.
In a heartfelt send-off, the senate committee on sports, Senator Bong Go, reminded the country’s national athletes of the immense pride and hope they bring as they head into international competitions.
“Always remember, you carry not just your name, but the spirit of every Filipino,” Go said. “When you win, the whole nation wins with you. No matter the result, you already carry the pride and admiration of the Filipino people.”
Reassuring the athletes of his unwavering support, the official added, “My office is always open for you. If you need anything—whether a solution or a problem—just come to my office.”
As the delegation prepared to embark on their journey, he encouraged them to fight with determination and honor the country. “Fight with all your heart. Bring home the bacon. The honor you bring to the country—you will carry it for the rest of your life. It is engraved in the history of the Philippines.”
He closed by urging the team to give their best, stay united, and make every Filipino proud: “Show the world how strong and united Filipinos can be.”
