Filipino Teams Advance to Predator League Playoffs

Manila: In a significant development in esports, two Filipino DOTA 2 teams, Blacklist Rivalry and Execration, along with one Valorant club, Team Secret, have secured their positions in the final phase of the Asia-Pacific Predator League playoffs. This achievement underscores the growing prowess of Filipino esports teams on the international stage.

According to Philippines News Agency, Blacklist Rivalry achieved an impressive 4-0 record in Group A, often referred to as the “group of death” due to the presence of three Filipino teams, including ZOL Esports. The team’s success was notably led by midlaner Abed Yusop and offlaner Kim Santos. Execration also performed commendably, finishing second in the same group with a 3-1 record, their only loss being against Blacklist Rivalry.

In contrast, Polaris Esports, another Filipino team in Group B, did not qualify for the semifinals. The spots were instead clinched by Team Aster from China and IHC Esports from Mongolia, both advancing to the Final Four of the DOTA 2 event.

The Valorant event saw Team Secret, the sole Filipino team in Group D, progressing to the semifinals after an outstanding performance, sweeping their group. This advance sets the stage for an exciting set of matches against Team Flash from Vietnam, FAV Gaming from Japan, and Boom Esports from Indonesia in the semifinals. Notably, FAV and Boom maintained perfect records in Groups A and C, respectively.

The remaining Filipino teams in contention, ZOL and Oasis, were earlier eliminated from the tournament. The final stage of the Predator League is scheduled to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, starting this Saturday. The event is poised to be a landmark moment for the Filipino esports community, showcasing their talent and competitive spirit on a prestigious international platform.