University of the East punched its ticket to the playoffs while pushing University of Santo Tomas to the brink of elimination with a 2-0 sweep on Day 2 of the 2026 UAAP Esports VALORANT Tournament on Thursday at NAOS Arena in Pasay City.
The victory propelled UE to the top of Group A with six points from back-to-back victories, formally securing its spot in the medal rounds.
UE head coach Vincent Paul Lubio welcomed the early qualification but stressed that the Red Warriors still have plenty of work ahead as they turn their attention toward making a deeper run in the tournament.
“I think we did a good job of making it to the playoffs and now it’s just a matter of time to prepare for our upcoming bigger matches. Obviously, we’re now aiming for the top three and we’re gonna prepare a whole lot for that,” shared Lubio.
“So hopefully everybody stays healthy and the mindset for our playoffs are set.”
With a playoff berth already secured, Lubio also challenged his wards to develop a more ruthless mentality as the competition intensifies in the medal rounds.
“I feel like we need to step up when it comes to our mindset, really. We have to be more tenacious and expectant of what’s coming for us. We also have to develop that killer mindset for all of us so we can deliver victories for our team,” he added.
UE raced to a quick 6-2 lead in Game 1 and extended its advantage to 10-4 behind Robbie Macapagal and Hannz Nickson Balajadia, who combined for 32 kills and 10 assists during that stretch.
The Teletigers narrowed the gap to 10-7 as Elijah Navarro fired three kills in Round 17, but UE held firm and secured three of the final four rounds to take the opening game, 13-8.
The Recto-based squad once again built a 6-2 lead in Game 2, but UST retaliated as Nathan Kyle Manuta exploded for 11 kills and six assists to cut the deficit to 6-5.
However, the Red Warriors shut down UST the rest of the way, allowing the España-based squad to win just two more rounds as they completed the sweep with a 13-9 victory.
Macapagal spearheaded the closeout, finishing with 28 kills and five assists overall.
Over in Group B, University of the Philippines maintained its hold on the top spot after battling three-peat-seeking De La Salle University to a 1-1 draw.
The Fighting Maroons opened the series with a hard-earned 13-10 victory before the Green Aces responded with a 13-10 win of their own in Game 2 to salvage the split.
National University likewise settled for a 1-1 draw against Far Eastern University to remain within striking distance of the top spot in Group B.
The Bulldogs dropped a tight 11-13 decision in Game 1 before bouncing back with a 13-10 victory in Game 2 to stay tied with La Salle for second place in Group B.
