FROM the land of Davao City to the land of dawn—Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), esports student-athletes from Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) are set to dominate the Grand Finals of the Philippine Collegiate Championship (PCC) National League on November 30, 2024, in Quezon City.
A total of six HCDC students competing in MLBB and Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM), who emerged victorious in the Mindanao regional qualifiers, will face off against other top collegiate teams from across the country. Their opponents include Ventura State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sta. Mesa, Central Philippine University, Systems Plus Computer College, National University, University of Cebu - Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, and Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, alongside runners-up and wild card qualifiers from the regional cup.
The HCDC athletes representing MLBB are Rex Adriane Barrera, Chivas Mikkolo Prado, John Khyan Ampo Remon, Dylan Shenn R. Mabayambang, Stephen John Valdez, and Carl John Gavilanes.
“We feel proud, excited, and pressured at the same time since we’re not just playing for ourselves but for everyone who supports us. It inspires us to perform our best. This is a moment to be grateful for the opportunities we’ve had and the experiences that lie ahead,” said Prado, the team captain of HCDC Esports Z MLBB.
The team’s journey to the national finals wasn’t without challenges. Prado recalled a tense upper-bracket finals match during the Mindanao qualifiers, where they nearly lost their chance to advance.
“It was a very close series with a 1-1 standing. They were leading in Game 3 in terms of towers and gold. However, we stayed focused, believing we could win by waiting for them to make a mistake and capitalizing on it. Our gold laner, Gavilanes, made a crucial clutch play that turned the game around for us,” he shared.
Aside from the intense tournament pressure, the athletes juggle academics and personal challenges, with some struggling to gain full support from their families regarding esports.
“To be honest, they don’t fully support my hobby. But this motivates me to maintain my grades so I can continue playing. I also see the pride and glory in representing our school,” Prado said.
HCDC’s qualification for the national league this season is a significant milestone, especially after falling short last year. The team is now determined to build on this achievement and make Davao City and Mindanao proud, following in the footsteps of the University of Southeastern Philippines - Obrero Campus, which secured 2nd Runner-Up in the previous national stage.
Prado acknowledged that the journey has been fraught with challenges, particularly scheduling conflicts.
“The main issue is scheduling conflicts, especially during tournaments, as we’re often not excused from classes. While we can practice anytime and anywhere, we’re often incomplete because of conflicting schedules,” he said.
Despite these obstacles, Prado expressed confidence in facing the country’s top collegiate teams in the National League on November 30.
The winners of the tournament will take home a share of the P250,000 prize pool. PR
