THE ATENEO Blue Eagles rose to the occasion, tying with the Adamson University (AdU) Falcons and defeating the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws Esports Team to clinch a berth in the semifinals. The two series were held yesterday at the Dark League Studios in Quezon City.
The outcome of yesterday’s matches garnered Ateneo a four-point record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Valorant group stage. Though tied with the Falcons, the Blue Eagles advanced to the bracket stage due to having a higher round differential.
Ateneo vs. Adamson Falcons
Due to technical difficulties experienced on day two, the Blue Eagles faced the Adamson Falcons yesterday behind closed doors. In the first match, the Blue and White selected Agents Breach (Juan Antonio Rosales), Neon (Joaquin Angelo Antonio), Sova (John Michael Amador), Killjoy (Joaquin Stuart De Guia), and Omen (Christian Emmanuel Owen).
The first game was a fiercely contested affair, with both teams duking it out until the Falcons secured a 13-9 victory. In particular, Ateneo’s Rosales showcased a brilliant performance on Breach, consistently planting the spike and racking up 20 kills throughout the bout. However, Adamson’s Ralph Michael Molina matched the Rosales’ intensity, notching 23 kills of his own to help the Falcons bag the win.
In the second match, Ateneo chose Sova (Amador), Breach (Rosales), Omen (Owen), Cypher (De Guia), and Neon (Antonio) as their agents.
Determined to avoid elimination, the Blue Eagles further intensified their performance in the second match to clinch a commanding 13-3 victory. Rosales once again played a remarkable game with 18 kills and 11 assists, helping Ateneo force a tie against AdU and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Ateneo vs FEU Tamaraws Esports
After their draw against the Falcons, the Blue Eagles needed a decisive victory over the Tamaraws to secure a spot in the Final Four.
Fully aware of the stakes, Ateneo entered the first map, Sunset, selecting Agents Sova (Amador), KAY/O (Rosales), Omen (Owen), Killjoy (De Guia), and Neon (Antonio) as attackers.
In the opening pistol round, Antonio quickly eliminated FEU’s Chris Jerome Abulencia, who was guarding B site alone. This allowed Ateneo to win the round swiftly, successfully denying the Tamaraws’ attempts for a retake.
Despite Ateneo winning the second round in similar fashion, FEU fought back strong, stealing the next four rounds with a series of cleverly placed Cypher tripwires, gaining a 4-2 advantage. However, the Blue Eagles eventually acclimated themselves to the Tamaraws’ setups and made the necessary adjustments, allowing them to even the score at 4-4.
The match remained highly competitive, with both teams trading rounds back and forth as Ateneo trailed, 5-6. However, after switching sides, Ateneo quickly took the next five rounds with tight defensive gameplay to clinch a double-digit scoreline, 10-5. With their eyes on the prize, the Blue Eagles maintained their momentum and won the next three rounds, securing a map win at Sunset with a 13-7 scoreline.
Following their decisive match one victory, the Blue Eagles proceeded to Ascent with aspirations of sweeping the Tamaraws. Starting as defenders, Ateneo selected Agents Sova (Amador), KAY/O (Rosales), Omen (Owen), Killjoy (De Guia), and Jett (Antonio) to engage in a mirror matchup against FEU.
Demonstrating their dominance, Ateneo immediately gained a 3-0 advantage, courtesy of an impeccable ace by Rosales in the third round. The Blue and White showed no signs of slowing down for the rest of the half, denying most of the Tamaraws’ takeover attempts and securing a 9-3 lead.
Now playing as attackers, the Katipunan-based squad adopted a more aggressive style of play, leaving FEU with no room to regroup. This approach helped Ateneo win the next four rounds, helping them clinch a 2-0 victory over the Tamaraws and booking their spot in the Final Four.
With sights set on winning gold, the Blue Eagles will face the University of Santo Tomas Teletigers Esports Club in the semifinals today, 1:00 PM, at the Areté’s Hyundai Hall in Quezon City.
Group A Standings (Points Overall):
- DLSU Viridis Arcus Esports: 3-0-0 (9)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles: 1-1-1 (4)
- AdU Falcons: 1-1-1 (4)
- FEU Tamaraws Esports: 0-3-0 (o)
Group B Standings (Points Overall):
- UP Fighting Maroons: 2-0-1 (7)
- UST Teletigers Esports Club: 2-0-1 (7)
- NU Bulldogs: 0-2-1 (1)
- UE Zenith Warriors: 0-2-1 (1)
Ateneo Blue Eagles lineup:
Joaquin Stuart De Guia
Juancho Manuel Garcia
John Michael Amador
Christian Emmanuel Owen
Joaquin Angelo Antonio
Juan Antonio Rosales
