A new chapter in collegiate esports history has been written. The Letran Knights were crowned the first-ever NCAA Esports ML:BB Champions, clinching a 3-1 grand finals victory over the JRU Heavy Bombers during the NCAA Season 100: Esports Kick-off held at the Philippine GameDev Expo in SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia.
The championship win marks a groundbreaking milestone for Colegio de San Juan de Letran, as the Knights secure their place in the record books as the inaugural Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (ML:BB) kings of the NCAA.
“Sulit ‘yung pagod ng araw-araw na scrim, araw-araw na laro. Ngayon, sulit lahat ng oras at sakripisyo namin as a team,” said John Marcus Loyola, Letran’s jungler. “Unang una, thank you kay God, thank you sa mga teammates ko, at sa lahat ng nagtulong-tulong mag-organize ng NCAA Esports. Sana matuloy pa ito.”
🏆 The Road to the Championship
The road wasn’t easy for the Knights. Both Letran and JRU dominated their respective groups during the Round Robin phase, earning playoff byes. But in their first playoff clash, JRU outplayed Letran 3-1 to advance straight to the finals.
Letran battled back fiercely in the Lower Bracket Final, defeating the Mapúa Cardinals 3-1 to earn their redemption match. And in a poetic twist, the Knights reversed the result with their own 3-1 win over JRU—claiming the title and vengeance in one fell swoop.
Final Standings:
- 🥇 Letran Knights
- 🥈 JRU Heavy Bombers
- 🥉 Mapúa Cardinals
🌟 MVP Honors & International Reward
Letran’s captain, Jade Michael Mercado, was named the realme Finals MVP for his standout leadership and dominant performance in the gold lane. He walked away with his very own realme 14 5G, recognizing his key role in the Knights’ championship run.
As champions, the team also earned an all-expenses-paid trip to the Thailand Game Show this October—courtesy of NCAA Esports’ partner, the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE).
🎙 Organizers Reflect on Milestone Moment
“Matagal na naming pangarap ito para sa mga bata na nangangarap magkaroon ng career sa esports,” shared Stanley Lao, Founder of CCE. “Basta tuloy lang sila sa pagsikap sa pangarap nila, tuloy lang kami sa pagsuporta.”
This landmark tournament was the first official Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports competition organized by NCAA Philippines, made possible through the Collegiate Center for Esports, the premier collegiate esports platform in the country.
📣 About the Collegiate Center for Esports
Founded in 2019, the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE) is recognized by CHED as a legitimate student esports tournament organizer. CCE provides competitive platforms that nurture aspiring esports athletes, helping them build careers through structured collegiate programs and events.
Stay connected:
- Facebook: facebook.com/collegiatecenterforesports
- Discord: bit.ly/CCEDiscord
