Viridis Arcus Esports secured their spot in the UAAP Season 87 Valorant Esports Tournament Finals with a hard-fought victory over the UP Fighting Maroons. The semifinal match at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box in Areté, Ateneo de Manila University saw La Salle emerge victorious with a 2-1 series win (13-2, 9-13, 13-9).
A Green-and-White tidal wave
The series opener on Haven began with a glimmer of hope for the Fighting Maroons with Lance Clemente’s clutch play in the first round, capitalizing on the Archers’ poor post-plant positioning to set the stage for an upset. Nathan Danac followed up with a jaw-dropping ace using the Operator, pushing the Katipunan-based squad to a 2-0 lead.
But what followed was nothing short of a green and white tsunami.
La Salle’s response was swift and merciless. They equalized with a lightning-fast plant at the C site, then unleashed a 12-round onslaught that left UP reeling. Sablay’s opening salvo at C Short set the tone, ballooning DLSU’s lead to 5-2. As the rounds ticked, the Fighting Maroons became increasingly overwhelmed by Viridus Arcus’ relentless aggression.
The map reached its crescendo with Miguel Dy’s clutch 2v1 defense on C Site, pushing the score to an eye-watering 11-2. In a final flourish, DLSU steamrolled through A Lobby with a quad-kill, sealing the map 13-2 and leaving the Fighting Maroons to wonder what had hit them.
The Maroon resurgence
As the action shifted to Icebox, both teams opted for a double duelist composition, signaling their intent for an all-out firefight. Viridis Arcus initially seemed poised to continue their dominance—swiftly securing a 2-0 lead on the defender’s side.
However, UP had learned from their Haven humbling as they adjusted their previously passive approach to aggression, which punished La Salle’s overconfident peeks. UP’s Cyrus Toring emerged as the catalyst for their comeback, racking up an impressive 12 kills and six assists.
Viridus Arcus’ defensive tactics grew increasingly reckless from then on, allowing the Maroons to seize control. By halftime, the Maroons had surged to a 9-4 lead, leaving La Salle visibly rattled.
However, the Taft-based team showed signs of life in the second half, with Derrick Ong delivering a highlight-reel instant headshot to close out a crucial round. Yet, UP’s momentum proved too much; they closed out the map at 13-9, handing DLSU their first map loss of the tournament and ultimately setting the stage for a decisive third-map brawl.
All-or-nothing
With everything on the line, both teams brought their A-game to Lotus, with Viridus Arcus eager to reassert their dominance as they stormed to a 4-0 lead. Their meticulous information gathering and site control left UP needing help to retake planted spikes.
The dynamic duo of Ong and Luis Corpus proved particularly lethal for the Taft-based squad, helping to extend their lead to 6-2. But the Maroons, battle-hardened from their Icebox comeback, refused to go quietly. Benedict Dasas led a clean retake to bring the score to 6-4, igniting hopes of another Maroon miracle.
The middle game saw momentum swing wildly, with La Salle’s team ace on B site pushing their lead to 8-4, only for UP to claw their way back to 9-all. The tension reached fever pitch when Corpus came agonizingly close to a game-changing ninja defuse, missing by a mere 0.61 seconds.
With the series hanging in the balance, the Green Archers found another gear in the form of Corpus’ defensive masterclass as he pushed them to a 10-9 lead. Then, in brilliance, Viridus Arcus capitalized on their Raze’s Showstopper ultimate to reach match point at 12-9.
Corpus found himself in a heart-stopping 1v1 against Clemente in a fitting finale to the epic series. He then secured the kill and the series, propelling La Salle to a 13-9 victory and a coveted spot in the finals.
After the game ended, Ong gave his flowers to the UP Fighting Maroons and their hard-fought victory, saying, “I’m very happy that we’re locked in for the Finals. Props to UP. They gave us a run for their money. It was a nice game.”
Viridis Arcus Esports now sets its sights on the highly-awaited championship showdown later today, August 16, at the same venue, where they’ll face the winner of the UST Teletigers Esports and ADMU Blue Eagles semifinal match.
