By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo screen captured from NCAA Philippines official live stream.
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Cyberknights made history as champions of the NCAA Season 100 Esports Kickoff, overcoming the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 3–1, in a best-of-five finals featuring Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, held at PGDX in the SMX Convention Center on July 27.
The team was composed of John Marcus Loyola, Aaron Jacob Corpuz, Christian Alec San Diego, George Brent Imbang, and Philip Fonzy Acera.
Letran entered Game 4 of the grand finals at match point with a 2-1 series lead and delivered a clean, composed performance to secure the championship. They built an early lead and maintained control throughout, eventually closing out the game at the 14-minute mark with a lord push and a decisive clash that took down four JRU members, sealing a 17-4 scoreline.
ACERA was instrumental in getting pickoffs with Kaja, while SAN DIEGO’s Lapu-Lapu applied constant pressure by zoning out opponents and disrupting their formation. MERCADO shined brightest in the final game, securing MVP honors with a perfect 10-0-4 KDA on Granger to cap off Letran’s championship run.
The Cyberknights set the tempo early in the series with back-to-back dominant wins in Games 1 and 2. Game 1 saw Letran quickly take control through aggressive rotations and high-mobility heroes, ending the match in just 13 minutes with a lopsided 22-3 scoreline. Playing Kimmy, CORPUZ put on a clinical performance with a 7-0-4 KDA, earning him MVP recognition in the first game.
Although the Heavy Bombers put up more resistance in Game 2, the Knights maintained composure and control, once again building an early lead and pressing this advantage for a 13–7 finish, sealed like the opener at the 13-minute mark. From the EXP lane, SAN DIEGO made his impact felt with Cici, ending the game with a 4-1-8 KDA and securing the MVP title.
Game 3 turned into a tense and extended showdown, lasting 23 minutes. The team from Mandaluying controlled the early game and held a steady gold lead for most of the match, but the Intramuros-based squad's disciplined defense kept them in the game and delayed the inevitable. It wasn’t until the Heavy Bomber’s third lord push that they finally broke through, securing a 13-23 win to stay alive in the series.
Playoffs run
In the semifinals, Letran clashed with Mapua University in a high-stakes best-of-three showdown. After dropping game 1, the Knights roared back with a reverse sweep, dominating games 2 and 3 to punch their ticket to the upper bracket finals.
There, they await the formidable JRU in a five-game series battle. The Cyberknights managed to equalize after losing the first game, but the Heavy Bombers proved too strong in the late stages, clinching games 3 and 4 to send the former to the lower bracket.
In a renewed chapter of the storied Battle of Intramuros, the Knights faced off against the Cardinals once more in the lower bracket finals. With redemption in their minds, Letran shook off a rocky start after dropping Game 1 and channeled their earlier reverse sweep magic. Fueled by discipline and teamwork, they bounced back with three straight wins to take the series 3–1 and secure their spot in the finals.
With the championship in hand, the Letran Cyberknights are headed to the Thailand Game Show this October.