By MARK REY MONTEJO
La Salle crowned itself the UAAP Esports VALORANT champion with a 13-5, 13-7 thumping off University of Sto. Tomas in the finals on Friday, Aug. 16, at the Hyundai Hall, Arete Ateneo in Quezon City.
Aaron Sablay, a third-year Applied Economics student, led the way for the Viridis Arcus Esports (DLSU) in their best-of-three finals series against the Teletigers Esports Club (UST).
La Salle coach Xavier Juan said their superb semifinal performance helped them prepare against the España-based squad.
“It became a lesson learned for us in the finals. In the finals, we were calm and cool. We played good. Our plays worked,” said Juan. “They performed well and our communication was good. The semifinal was a lesson learned and we did way better in the finals.”
Sabay went on to win the Predator Finals MVP after spearheading his team that include Derrick Ong, Lucas Gruenberg, Miguel Fernando Dy, Gerardo Luis Corpus II, and Lance Elmo Gacayan to victory against UST.
“Obviously masaya but as I said, it’s a team game. Everyone in the team played well. I think any given day, any of us could be the MVP because we all played our parts really well,” Sablay said.
Despite their loss, John Matthew Cuaresma, who anchored the Teletigers, received the Chow King Kakaibang Player of the Tournament, taking home a handsome purse of P30,000.
Before entering the finals, La Salle survived University of the Philippines (2-1) while UST blanked Ateneo (2-0) in their respective semifinals clash.
UP and Ateneo both settled for bronze.
