National University stood on the brink of greatness after a dominant Game 1 victory in the UAAP Esports MLBB finals last May.
But just as they were poised to claim the championship, disaster struck — they fell victim to a heartbreaking reverse sweep at the hands of De La Salle University.
Fueled by the pain of their collapse, the Bulldogs stormed through the Galaxy Gaming Academy Campus Series. They ultimately secured redemption with a 4-2 victory over fellow Filipinos FAITH NOVUS Bravehearts in the grand finals held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
For team captain Rendell Bangsal, the finals defeat became a turning point. It pushed the Bulldogs to polish their gameplay and consistently strive for excellence — not just in the local collegiate scene, but across Southeast Asia as well.
“Sobrang sakit matalo sa tournaments, lalo na kapag finals kasi isang panalo na lang, champion na. Pero sa bawat pagkatalo, lagi kaming may lessons na nakukuha. Ginamit namin ‘yun para bumawi sa mga next tournaments,” Bangsal told Tiebreaker Times in an exclusive interview.
Despite breezing through the UAAP group stage and semifinals, the finals loss served as both a painful reminder and a powerful motivator for Bangsal and the rest of the squad.
It highlighted the gaps in their strategy and teamwork — lessons that would prove crucial in their subsequent campaigns.
“Ginawa naming motivation ‘yung pagkatalo sa finals para makabawi. Nagkaroon kami ng disiplina sa paglalaro. Dala namin ‘yung experience sa lahat ng tourna na nasalihan namin.”
Head coach Patrick Balanquit echoed Bangsal’s sentiments, emphasizing that their championship run in Indonesia was the product of relentless effort, discipline, and a burning desire to redeem themselves.
“Malaking bagay talaga sa’min ‘yung panalo na ‘to kasi talagang gusto namin makabawi after namin matalo sa UAAP. Siguro motivation na din talaga para mag-improve pa kami as a team at lumabas ‘yung results ng mga pinagplanuhan at prinactice namin,” he said.
With redemption finally in hand, the Bulldogs have turned their heartbreak into hunger — proving that setbacks, no matter how painful, can be the very fuel that drives greatness.
