REPRESENTING Mindanao in the knockout stage of the Moonton Student Leader (MSL) Collegiate Cup Season 2, two proud esports squads—Ateneo Esports of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) and DEEA-Agila Esports of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP)—made their mark on the national stage at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City, held from July 11 to 13, 2025. The teams clinched 4th and 5th–6th places, respectively.
Ateneo Esports capped off a milestone run with a strong 4th-place national finish, defeating top collegiate teams from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. They took home ₱30,000 in prize winnings. Their campaign was headlined by a major upset over De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Aces, the reigning UAAP champions, and a high-stakes victory against DEEA-Agila in the much-anticipated “Battle of the Sky Kings.” Both teams hail from Mindanao, but only one eagle could soar into the final four.
Ateneo Esports’ run ended in a hard-fought 2–1 Lower Bracket Semifinal against defending champions SVX PHINMA (PHINMA – University of Iloilo). Still, their Final Four entry is a landmark moment for both their school and Mindanao esports.
“Sa lahat ng teams sa Mindanao, kita-kits tayo sa mga susunod na tournaments. Patuloy nating itaas ang pangalan ng Mindanao region, masyado na tayong minamaliit ng ibang rehiyon. Sama-sama nating patunayan na hindi tayo nagpapahuli at kayang-kaya nating makipagsabayan. Itaas natin ang level ng kompetisyon dito sa Mindanao,” said Ateneo Esports team captain Jam Lopez in an online post-tournament interview on July 13.
“To all teams in Mindanao, see you in the next tournaments. Let’s continue raising the name of the Mindanao region—they’ve been underestimating us for too long. Let’s prove together that we’re not behind and that we can compete head-to-head. Let’s elevate the level of competition in Mindanao,” Lopez said.
He added that one of the toughest parts of their campaign was dealing with internal pressure as the tournament progressed.
“Nandun yung kaba lalo na bilang first-timers na umakyat sa nationals stage. Pero bawat pagkatalo, nandoon lagi ang manager namin para iangat ang morale namin. Malaking bagay din ‘yung suporta mula sa mga tagahanga namin, ramdam talaga naming bitbit namin ang buong Mindanao at Ateneo de Davao University sa Manila. Doon kami humugot ng lakas para bumangon at lumaban uli,” he added.
“It was nerve-wracking, especially since it was our first time on the national stage. But after every loss, our manager was always there to lift our morale. The support from our fans was a huge help too—we really felt like we were carrying all of Mindanao and Ateneo de Davao University with us in Manila. That’s where we drew our strength to rise and fight again.”
Despite falling short of the championship, Lopez emphasized that this is just the beginning:
“Mga bata pa lang kami at marami pa kaming gustong patunayan. Hindi pa dito nagtatapos—this is just the start para sa team namin,” he said.
“Most of us are still young, and we still have a lot to prove. This isn’t the end—this is just the beginning for our team.”
Meanwhile, DEEA-Agila Esports of USEP ended their spirited run in 5th–6th place, earning ₱20,000. They entered the tournament through the wildcard selection by the Davao Esports Enthusiast Association (DEEA). Despite falling short in the Knockout Stage, they were Mindanao’s top seed during the group stage and proved themselves a formidable presence on the national scene.
Team captain Joshua Macantan noted the region’s growth.
“Mindanao’s competitive growth is improving very well—kaya na nila makipagsabayan sa ibang regions and national,” Macantan said. “They can now keep up with other regions and compete nationally.”
Looking ahead, he shared that while some members are graduating and shifting focus to academics, the team will still explore every opportunity to maintain their momentum.
As MSL Collegiate Cup Season 2 ends, the South has left an undeniable mark—not only through performance, but through pride, unity, and the determination to grow. Ateneo Esports and DEEA-Agila Esports have proven that Mindanao is no longer just a participant—but a rising force in Philippine collegiate Esports. Krizzy Daugdaug/Contributor