MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University ruled esports in the inaugural Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Friendship Games held last week.
Held in collaboration with Collegiate Center of Esports (CCE), CHED injected esports with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the maiden tilt where the Katipunan-based squad reigned supreme.
Against 15 other teams, Ateneo's Cyril Damon Lorenzo, Kyle Christian Calub and Eugene Dela Cruz bulldozed their way to the crown as they swept the competition.
In the final, they bested Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan, 3-0, where all three players took turns with MVP performances.
Lorenzo’s Wanwan with 11 kills, three deaths ang eight assists led the way for Ateneo in Game One. Dela Cruz’s Xavier (5-0-12 KDA) then stamped a perfect performance in Game Two before Calub put on the finishing touches in the clincher with his Valentina (2-0-9 KDA).
"Nilaro lang po namin ‘yung usual na laro namin. Mind set lang po namin na mag-enjoy at happy po nag-champion pa," said Dela Cruz.
Esports in the CHED Friendship Games was a good prelude to a season long of esports action when the CCE officially rolls out its maiden season after a successful launch last year with varsity players leading the way.
Lyceum of the Philippines University was named champion of the CCE Varsity Cup, which served as a warm-up event for the league's full-blown season in July.