The competitive spirit rekindled as different home-grown teams join several competitions in the online platform. The University shall be represented in several Esports events wherein skill and strategy will be displayed in online games such as Mobile Legends, Valorant, League of Legends and others. UPLB shall also figure in traditional sports particularly in the martial arts. These traditional sports such as Arnis, Karate and Taekwondo have found a niche in the virtual world as the display in form, rather than actual combat, is the basis of competition.

Makiling Esports for UPLB in the Valorant Games

Bannered by the Makiling Esports Varsity team, UPLB participated in the Asus ROG Alliance Cup S3 Valorant Tournament. This is on a nationwide scale and was participated in by notable colleges and universities. The event was held last Aug 20, 2021 and was hosted by Acad Arena, a professional Esports organization which propagates the aspects of competition, streaming and commentating. Kyno Castillo, Clarence Delano, John Michael Valdez, Senen Zyril Tamargo, Edward Oña and Keanu Villanueva, all from the Institute of Computer Science and members of the Alliance of Gamers student organization, made up the team of Makiling Esports for this Valorant tournament.

Makiling Esports dropped a very exciting first match to the University of St. Lasalle Retikanos Esports to the score of 11-13. They redeemed themselves by besting the Butuan Based FSUU Boom Urians, 13-11. Unfortunately, Makiling Esports bowed out of their inaugural tournament as it lost to The Southern Knights of Letran Calamba, 13-4.

THE STRASUC Online Competitions

The Southern Tagalog Region Association of State Universities and Colleges shall hold the virtual rendition of their inter-collegiate games on December 6-10. UPLB will be competing in the Esport event of Mobile Legends and the traditional sport of Arnis (Anyo event). The Mobile Legends will be played in real time and shall be streamed live by the organizers. The Arnis competition on the other hand requires a pre-submitted video before the actual date of the games. The pre-judged videos will be streamed during the tournament dates wherein the announcement of the podium finishers will follow.

— MA Salangsang