Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

ESports

NU finds redemption with Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series championship


National University was a team on a mission — tearing through the competition and capping off its dominant run with a clinical 4–2 conquest of fellow Filipinos FAITH NOVUS Bravehearts in the grand finals to capture the Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series title on Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It was redemption for the Bulldogs, who avenged their heartbreaking reverse sweep loss to De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 87 Esports MLBB Tournament finals.

“Performance and draft-wise, we gave it our all, but props to FAITH Colleges—they really made us work for it,” said NU coach Patrick Balanquit after his squad pulled off a gritty championship finish.

“In Game 6, I was really nervous. It was such a close match, and we thought we had lost it after getting wiped out. But we got another chance — and maybe that was the sign that the championship was meant for us,” Balanquit shared, recalling the nerve-wracking moment when NU botched a base turret siege and was nearly forced into a winner-take-all Game 7.

In the decisive Game 6, the UAAP runners-up found themselves at a disadvantage during a late 20th-minute Lord fight, down 4-on-5.

But a clutch backline flanking maneuver by Johann Estacio (using Joy) turned the tide, allowing NU to score three unanswered pickoffs and execute a game-winning siege to seal the championship.

NU’s road to the finals saw the Sampaloc-based squad sweep Singaporean champions Banana Brawlers before cruising past Indonesia’s Team VL with a 3–1 win in the semifinals.

The Bravehearts of FAITH Colleges, based in Tanauan City, Batangas, earned their place in the grand finals by first edging out Singapore’s Team Secret in a tight 2–1 battle, followed by a dramatic come-from-behind 3–2 victory over Malaysia’s UUM x Boboyot in the final four.

#ReadMore  Tallo, Bacolod outduel Baracael, Mindoro; Jollo Go shines in Manila rout of Nueva Ecija

In the Philippine qualifiers, the Bravehearts had earlier eliminated UAAP Season 87 champions De La Salle University in the quarterfinals.

With the victory, NU claimed the tournament’s $18,000 top prize, while FAITH NOVUS Bravehearts settled for $8,000 as runners-up.

Written By

A Bacolodnon who loves basketball, chess, and esports.


You May Also Like

ESports

National University stood on the brink of greatness after a dominant Game 1 victory in the UAAP Esports MLBB finals last May. But just...

ESports

National University has been making waves in the collegiate esports scene, highlighted by a silver-medal finish in the UAAP Season 87 Mobile Legends: Bang...

DLSU

De La Salle University successfully avenged its group stage loss to National University, mounting a comeback to pull off a 2-1 reverse sweep in...

ADMU

By: Jerod Orcullo University of Santo Tomas and National University secured the top seeds in their respective groups with dominant performances on the final...

ADMU

National University took down defending champion University of the East, 2-0, to punch its ticket to the playoffs of the UAAP Season 87 Esports...

ADMU

DEFENDING champion University of the East kicked off its title defense with authority, sweeping the University of the Philippines, 2-0, for a resounding debut...

ESports

University of the East (UE) entered the 2024 UAAP Esports Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament as one of the lower-ranked teams. However, the Zenith...

ADMU

University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) have emerged as the top seeds in their respective groups following the conclusion of...

Advertisement