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.
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When the game was on the line, Anton Asistio stepped up and delivered.
The sharpshooting guard calmly sank four crucial free throws in the dying seconds to power Rain or Shine Elasto Painters past Titan Ultra, 112-111, in a heart-stopping PBA Philippine Cup clash on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Down 108-111 with just over two seconds left, Asistio drew a foul from beyond the arc and coolly converted all his free throws to complete Rain or Shine’s dramatic comeback and secure their second straight win, improving to 3-1 in the standings.
Head coach Yeng Guiao lauded Asistio’s composure and quick thinking in executing the play perfectly under pressure.
“We designed that last play for Anton, but we did not really anticipate that it was going to be a four-point shot,” said Guiao. “We knew they were going to foul, so we told him—when you feel the foul coming, put up the shot. That’s exactly what he did.”
The clutch moment capped off a strong all-around team performance. Adrian Nocum led the E-Painters with 24 points before fouling out, while Santi Santillan poured in 21 points—including 13 in the fourth quarter—to spearhead the rally. Jhonard Clarito added 19 markers, eight of which came in the final frame.
Despite a big night from Calvin Abueva, who finished with 31 points and 18 rebounds, Titan Ultra fell short and dropped to 1-4. Aljun Melecio chipped in 21, while Joshua Munzon came close to a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Titan looked in full control after building an 85-66 lead in the third quarter behind a barrage of three-pointers, but Rain or Shine’s relentless fightback flipped the script.
“I’m really happy with the endgame, but for the first three quarters, I wasn’t that happy,” Guiao admitted. “The important thing is, we found ways to win.”
With momentum on their side and confidence growing, Rain or Shine continues to show the grit and chemistry that define a true contender in this year’s Philippine Cup.
Filipino weightlifter Princess Jay Ann Diaz delivered another proud moment for the Philippines after clinching the bronze medal in the Girls’ 44kg Clean & Jerk event at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain.
The young lifter displayed impressive strength and composure, posting a total lift of 141 kilograms, highlighted by a 63kg snatch and a 78kg clean & jerk, to secure third place against Asia’s top youth competitors.
Diaz’s podium finish not only added to Team Philippines’ growing medal count but also underscored the country’s sustained success in the sport of weightlifting, a discipline that continues to flourish following the legacy of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo.
Her bronze medal marks another milestone in the Philippines’ strong showing at the continental event, reflecting the nation’s rising pool of young talent in international competition.
The Philippine Muay Wai Kru team continues to build momentum at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain, capturing another gold medal through the impressive tandem of Tyron Jamborillo and Jan Brix Ramiscal in the Mixed Mai Muay competition held at the Exhibition World Grand Hall.
Following the earlier triumphs of Lyre Anie Ngina and Zeth Gabriel Bueno in the 14–15 Wai Kru divisions, Jamborillo and Ramiscal delivered a near-flawless performance, showcasing synchronization, power, and grace that earned them 9.20 points from the judges.
Their routine outshined the host nation’s team from the United Arab Emirates, Rakan Yousef, Aziz Alhammadi, and Aya Chaari, who took silver, while Malaysia’s Jaethan Jonathan Quan and Bethany Yun Yunn settled for bronze with 8.27 points.
The duo’s golden finish marked the third gold medal for the Philippine Muay squad, further strengthening the country’s campaign with an updated tally of 6 golds, 5 silvers, and 6 bronzes.
Ramiscal also added to the medal count earlier with a silver medal in the Boys’ Wai Kru 16–17 division, finishing behind Thailand’s Pimpichien Chaiwan.
With each win, the Filipino Muay contingent continues to assert its growing dominance in the regional scene, carrying the nation’s pride high in Bahrain.
The San Miguel Beermen held off a furious comeback by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to escape with a thrilling 83–81 victory in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai early Monday (Manila time).
Leading by as much as 14 points, San Miguel weathered Ginebra’s late rally behind the leadership of June Mar Fajardo, who turned in another MVP-caliber performance with 17 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks.
Veteran guard Kris Rosales delivered in the clutch, knocking down two crucial three-pointers in the final minutes to help the Beermen secure their second win in four games.
“Our schedule is quite packed, but we still managed to execute our game plan and get the win,” said Fajardo, who also took time to thank the Filipino fans in Dubai for their unwavering support.
Ginebra had a final chance to snatch the win after forcing a turnover in the last 3.7 seconds, but Scottie Thompson’s desperation three-pointer missed at the buzzer.
Japeth Aguilar led the Gin Kings with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, while RJ Abarrientos added 17 points, and Thompson nearly posted a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Despite Ginebra’s valiant effort, San Miguel’s composure and experience proved decisive, giving them a momentum boost as they continue their title campaign in the midseason conference.
Team Philippines celebrated a golden double in Muay at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain, as young standouts Lyre Anie Ngina and Zeth Gabriel Bueno captured top honors in their respective Wai Kru divisions on Sunday, October 26.
Ngina opened the country’s campaign with a commanding performance in the Girls’ Wai Kru 14–15 division, delivering a near-flawless routine that showcased grace, precision, and discipline. The 14-year-old Filipina impressed the judges with a 9.00 score, edging Malaysia’s Auryelle Xzandra Bobby (8.80) and Thailand’s Kittima Yotsombat (8.60) to secure the gold at the Exhibition World Grand Hall.
Following her lead, Bueno extended the nation’s success by ruling the Boys’ Wai Kru 14–15 category, producing an outstanding performance that earned a remarkable 9.17 points—surpassing Thailand’s Daonuea Phuangmali (9.00) to clinch the top spot.
Their victories highlighted the Philippines’ growing strength in Muay, a traditional martial art rooted in culture and discipline. Both Ngina and Bueno’s golden finishes not only brought pride to the nation but also underscored the promise of the country’s next generation of martial artists on the Asian stage.
Their golden triumph further boosted the Philippines’ medal haul, bringing the nation’s tally to six golds, five silvers, and six bronze, solidifying its position among the top contenders in the overall standings.
