With zero losses and all the glory, the DLSU Valorant Esports team locked in the UAAP Season 87 Valorant Esports Tournament, claiming back-to-back titles after terminating the FEU Tams FX in the Finals last Sunday, May 11, at Quantum Skyview, Gateway 2.
The top frag was former coach and returning player Xavier Juan, who was hailed Grand Finals MVP after being an absolute nightmare to his opponents with 26 kills and seven assists playing as Fade in their last game alone.
Solid in a split second
La Salle entered the arena on May 7 with heads held high, facing their first opponent, the NU Bulldogs. Their opening clash on Icebox, a map known for tight angles and verticality, showcased DLSU’s balanced roster shine. With Aaron Sablay’s aggressive entries, Miguel Dy and Luis Corpus locking down control, and Thomas Eusebio and Lance Novilla dismantling NU’s utilities, the Green-and-White dominated their first battle. Despite NU’s Reyna and Gekko pushing for duels, they struggled against DLSU’s tight holds, closing the first game with a 10-point difference in favor of the Lasallians, 13-3.
In succession, DLSU and NU faced off on Split, a map known for narrow areas and unique site designs. La Salle’s double controller and duelist setup gave them the upper hand, with Novilla’s mobility in tight corridors proving crucial. La Salle won 13-4, securing a 2-0 victory. Sablay emerged MVP for both games, showcasing exceptional skill and leadership.
On May 9, with Juan rejoining the squad, DLSU returned to the battlefield and squared off against rivals ADMU Loyola Gaming on Split, aiming to extend their streak. Their double-smoked setup denied Ateneo’s map control, and DLSU’s flawless post-plants led to their dominant win, 13-2. Back on Icebox, Sablay’s Jett entries and Novilla’s KAY/O played key roles in shutting down Ateneo’s setups, ending 13-4 victory for another 2-0 series sweep.
Sunset standoff
DLSU faced their toughest challenge yet against UE Zenith on May 10. Coming from two games battling in similar settings, La Salle is situated on the newer Sunset, a map with a wide mid lane. From the get-go, UE’s aggressive plays and well-coordinated utility, throwing flashes and mollys, disrupted DLSU’s site holds. For the first time, a team in the UAAP managed to hit double-digits against the undefeated La Salle. The unscathed Lasallians did not succumb to this, responding with smart rotates and utility layering to take round wins. Despite the early shake, the Green-and-White emerged victorious from the showdown at Sunset, 13-10.
Again, on a newer map, DLSU and UE clashed at Lotus, a map with unique rotating doors and a three-site battleground. La Salle wasted no time and banked on the fresh victory on Sunset, barely allowing UE Zenith to stand a chance. The Green-and-White manipulated the map’s layout to keep their opponents in the dark, using their utility in a surgical manner to clear sites. La Salle wrapped up their match on Lotus against UE at 13-6, securing another clean 2-0 sweep in the series to advance to the semifinals.
Archers’ haven
With an unblemished record, DLSU entered the semifinals with its consistent grit against the UP Esports Varsity Team on the morning of May 11. Map number one was Sunset; With duelist Sablay blazing through lanes and initiator Novilla clearing angles with flashpoints and aftershocks, DLSU was determined to set a relentless pace. However, the Taft-based squad was seemingly struggling to get a hold of the cunning ways of the enemies who used Raze and Deadlock. La Salle looked regrouped as they called a timeout. The break proved to be fruitful as DLSU bounced back and outplayed UP, utilizing Juan’s Recon Darts for critical intel combined with Corpus and Dy’s smokes and tripwires to lock down spaces. Their post-plant composure and clean execution brought La Salle one step closer to the finals, finishing the first map at 13-7.
Valorant’s iconic three-site map, Haven, a map popular for its unique structure, which demands quick-witted rotations, tight site defense, and mid control, was the second setting in the semifinals. Novilla used Iso to lead the charge with fearless duels, backed by Sablay’s Yoru. Haven became DLSU’s playground as the Green-and-White punished UP with their early aggression, covering all angles. Every round was calculated, from seamless site takes to playing traps. DLSU shut down any chance of their enemies gaining momentum. Further cementing their undefeated record and booking their ticket to the grand finals, the DLSU Valorant Esports team delivered a statement win with a near-flawless 13-1 finish and a 2-0 record in the semifinals.
Clash for the crown
Fresh from the semifinal win, DLSU was locked in to enter the grand finals with fellow undefeated squad FEU Tams FX on the same day. The two emerging teams met on Haven, reminiscent of La Salle’s semifinals finish as they stacked the same roster of agents. FEU Tams FX also employed the same set as UP when they met in the semis. However, despite the familiarity of the map and agent picks, it was a far different story for the DLSU Valorant Team in the finals as they struggled to get ahead of FEU’s calculated strategies. However, Juan guided his team with clutch and smart plays to lead La Salle’s comeback, 9-8. The Green-and-White regained their momentum and ended up taking the first game, 13-10. Juan was awarded MVP in the first game with 19 kills and seven assists, using the initiator Sova.
Split was decided to be the second map in the Finals. Tams FX showed grit in their performance, always having a rebuttal to La Salle’s cunning ways. The rivals took round after round, as La Salle lagged behind, 4-1. Another huddle was called by DLSU, looking to regroup and work around FEU’s attempts. Coming out of the much-needed timeout, the DLSU Valorant Team played for picks, cautiously checking each and every corner while holding angles one at a time. Juan used Fade once again to bait the enemies, forcing them to clear the sites they previously held while La Salle rushed in. They traded rounds back and forth until La Salle fought tooth and nail, 10-all. Juan’s showstopping low-HP 1v1 in Round 21 was the catalyst for La Salle to overcome the last three rounds, tallying a 13-10 and a Finals sweep, which bagged the DLSU Valorant Team its second consecutive championship.
