Before completing their Cinderella run in the UAAP Esports MLBB Tournament, University of the East faced a daunting challenge that nearly derailed their campaign right from the start.
Entering the tournament with high confidence, the Warriors experienced a reality check when they were swept 2-0 by University of Santo Tomas Teletigers Esports Club on opening day. With one more loss, their playoff hopes would have been dashed.
UE head coach John Benedict Sampang admitted that the loss to UST had a significant impact on the team, causing some internal friction.
“May mga naging tampuhan yung team. Pero instead na maging hadlang, naging advantage na rin po siya. Hindi namin siya tinake as disadvantage but as motivation para manalo,” said Sampang.
“Dun po kami nabuhay talaga,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
This adversity sparked a transformation in the Zenith Warriors, beginning with a crucial 2-0 sweep of Adamson University, which reignited their playoff aspirations. Had they lost that game, their medal hopes would have ended.
Following this, they secured a 1-1 split against University of the Philippines, earning them a semifinal berth as the second seed behind UST.
In the semifinals, the Warriors faced the formidable Far Eastern University, who had topped a tough group that included National University, De La Salle University, and Ateneo de Manila University. Despite being underdogs, the Warriors staged a remarkable reverse sweep of FEU, setting up a dramatic final showdown.
“Sobrang laking confidence booster nung panalo namin sa FEU. Lalo na nakita namin nung Game 1 na wala naman kami masyadong naging error. Dahil sa panalo na yun, mas nalinis namin yung gameplay namin at natupad lahat ng ginagawa namin sa practice,” shared playing coach Arohn John Cabigting.
In the grand finale, the Zenith Warriors avenged their group stage loss to UST in the most crucial match of the tournament. The victory secured them the inaugural MLBB title in UAAP history, and Sampang was visibly emotional as he addressed the crowd, overwhelmed by the moment.
After all, the Warriors’ success was a testament to their perseverance and resilience throughout an arduous journey.
