Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

ADMU

Paolo Medina eyes future in content creation after UAAP NBA2K glory


By: Jerod Orcullo

Title defended and legacy cemented, Paolo Medina now sets his sights on his passion after back-to-back golds in UAAP NBA2K tournament

After successfully defending his title and securing back-to-back gold medals in the UAAP NBA2K tournament, Paolo Medina now turns his attention to a different dream: pursuing his passion beyond the virtual hardwood.

Heading into Season 87, Ateneo de Manila University was pegged as the team to beat in NBA2K25, largely due to Medina’s championship run in the special exhibition event hosted on their home turf last August.

This year’s tournament introduced a team-based format, and Medina—now in his fourth year as a BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship student—joined forces with fellow Blue Eagles Luis Jovellanos and Justin Lagac. Both had also competed in the inaugural event.

Ateneo swept the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record, highlighted by Medina’s early clash with his former finals rival from De La Salle University, Keagan Yap. Medina came out on top once again, setting the tone for the Blue Eagles’ dominant run.

After La Salle was eliminated in the semifinals, Ateneo faced a formidable University of Santo Tomas team, which topped Group B. Their lineup featured strong contenders in Daemiel Argame and Eryx Delos Reyes.

Jovellanos opened the finals series with an electrifying 77-71 overtime victory over Argame. Medina then sealed the championship by defeating Delos Reyes, 69-59, in Game 2.

Compared to his solo win last year, the former Ateneo team manager admitted this title felt even more fulfilling thanks to the team effort.

#ReadMore  Nacua, 2 others transfer to Benilde; Buensalida goes to Letran

“I feel like this feeling of winning is way more satisfying than it was last year knowing that I did it with the efforts of my team behind me, knowing that Luis came up clutch in Game 1 in that overtime thriller,” Medina told Tiebreaker Times following his title-clinching win.

“It really feels like we’ve been here before, and we have, but this time it’s different knowing that it really was a full effort from the whole team. The whole bootcamp we had this past week really really helped us for this championship run and I’m very very pleased with how this whole tournament, this whole experience really turned out.”

In fact, Medina made a major sacrifice to make the campaign possible.

He cut short a trip to Japan and flew back to the Philippines on May 6, expecting the tournament to start the following day. But upon arrival, Lagac informed him via text that the start date had been moved to May 13.

Although initially frustrated, the 24-year-old realized that the unexpected delay gave them more time to prepare—an advantage that ultimately proved decisive.

“We had bootcamp in Infina, thank you to Luis, shoutout to the Jovellanos family for that. But that whole bootcamp really helped drive our preparations heading into this tournament and I think our composure, our experience, and just everything that we’ve built for this past year has shown today,” he shared.

A Passion for Esports

UAAP-87-ESPORTS-2K-PAOLO-MEDINA-4926 Paolo Medina eyes future in content creation after UAAP NBA2K glory ADMU ESports NBA 2K News UAAP  - philippine sports news

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

An avid gamer himself, Medina revealed that esports is something he deeply enjoys. However, he doesn’t intend to pursue a professional career in competitive gaming.

#ReadMore  Topex eyes learning from rivals, Gold stresses focus as UP faces La Salle

Instead, he dreams of creating content and streaming, following in the footsteps of American YouTuber IShowSpeed.

“I don’t think I want to like compete gaming competitively, like professionally, but I do want to pursue like the content creation side, the livestreaming side of gaming because I think that’s something I really am passionate about,” he expressed.

“Hopefully, after I graduate, that’s something I’m able to do like consistently. I think that’s the hard part, is doing it consistently… hopefully that’s something I can pursue gaming-wise after UAAP Esports and I’m just very blessed that this opportunity has fallen onto me. I feel blessed man.”

The Future of Esports in the UAAP

UAAP-87-ESPORTS-2K-CHAMPION-ATENEO-5132 Paolo Medina eyes future in content creation after UAAP NBA2K glory ADMU ESports NBA 2K News UAAP  - philippine sports news

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

With two successful seasons now in the books, the UAAP has yet to officially confirm whether esports will become a permanent fixture in the collegiate league.

For Medina, its inclusion is already a major win and a significant leap forward for gaming in the Philippines.

“I’ve always felt like esports, specially during COVID, I’ve always felt like esports was the perfect UAAP sport, so to see it right now, in its second year, with all of these people, with this big stage and this beautiful setup in Gateway, it’s stunning,” he said.

“It makes me excited for the evolution of UAAP Esports and just esports as a whole in our country, because I feel like gaming can really be a passion that someone can pursue if they wanted to.”

He added that with more tournaments like this, students are given new avenues to chase their passion—something that was previously unimaginable in the collegiate scene.

#ReadMore  UST achieves rare event sweep, rules UAAP men's, women's, HS table tennis

“With more tournaments like this, with the UAAP growing bigger and bigger, it gives more students that opportunity to compete, to take esports to another level, to make esports something that they pursue, something that they want to do when they grow old.”

Medina also expressed hope that future seasons would include more game titles, such as Tekken and Marvel Rivals, to diversify the competition and attract even more participants.

“I just expect esports to become bigger and bigger every year and I’m happy that the UAAP Esports is continuing to expand.”

Written By


You May Also Like

AdU

Through five full playing years with De La Salle University in the UAAP, professional stints with the now-disbanded F2 Logistics and Cignal in the...

Basketball

A few weeks before the FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup 2025 SEABA Qualifiers, four standouts from the University of the East were named to the...

3x3 Basketball

It’s been quite a year for the Cabañero brothers, Nic and Andwele. In his senior year, Nic led the University of Santo Tomas Growling...

Basketball

Jhustin Hallare didn’t have the ideal start to his UAAP journey. Competing in both the 16-and-under and 19-and-under divisions, Hallare and the University of...

ADMU

University of Santo Tomas reaffirmed its status as the gold standard in the UAAP, clinching its eighth consecutive general championship in the collegiate division...

ADMU

University of the Philippines cast a spellbinding performance that enchanted the eight-team field with a magical showcase unlike any other. The UP Streetdance Club...

DLSU

Already an accomplished professional VALORANT player, Xavier “xavi8k” Juan made a bold move — returning to school for a chance to fulfill a long-time...

News

In the biggest game of the season, Buds Buddin had every reason to sit out. Still nursing a right ankle sprain that had sidelined...

Advertisement