FINAL: The Colegio de San Juan de Letran claims the #NCAA100 inaugural Esports Tournament: Mobile Legends Title after taking down Jose Rizal University in the finals! (NCAA Philippines)
In a landmark moment for collegiate esports in the Philippines, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights emerged as the first-ever NCAA Mobile Legends: Bang Bang champions—proving that resilience and strategy matter just as much as skill.
Held before a lively crowd at the SMX Convention Center during the Philippine GameDev Expo on July 27, the Knights completed a dramatic redemption arc, bouncing back from a crushing upper bracket loss to the José Rizal University Heavy Bombers to clinch the title with a 3-1 victory in the grand finals.
But their path to glory was anything but smooth.
After being knocked down by JRU earlier in the day, the Knights regrouped and unleashed a masterclass performance against the Mapúa Cardinals in the lower bracket final, winning 3-1 to earn a shot at revenge against the very team that had sent them packing.
When the rematch came, Letran struck fast and hard—racing to a 2-0 series lead behind sharp drafting and near-flawless execution. Game 3 saw JRU mount a desperate stand, targeting Letran’s standout jungler, John Marcus Loyola, to slow the Knights’ tempo and avoid a sweep.
Yet in Game 4, Letran made sure there would be no miracle comeback. With surgical precision, they outmaneuvered JRU in the draft and on the battlefield, dismantling the Bombers’ defenses and sealing the win in just under 15 minutes.
The tournament, spearheaded by the NCAA in collaboration with the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE), signals a significant step forward for student-athletes who dream of making it big in the booming esports industry.
“This championship isn’t just for Letran—it’s for every young gamer who dreams of turning passion into profession,” said CCE founder Stanley Lao. “We’ve always believed in giving students a platform to shine in esports. As long as they keep chasing their dreams, we’ll be right behind them.”
With this historic win, the Letran Knights didn’t just take home a trophy—they ignited a new era for campus esports in the Philippines.