The Dynasty Begins: Green Aces etch legacy with back-to-back championship in S87

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Aces cemented their legacy as back-to-back champions in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Esports Valorant Tournament after dominating both the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Far Eastern University (FEU) Esports Teams yesterday at the Quantum Skyview Deck of Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City.

The Green Aces unleashed their full prowess in the arena after sweeping every round in the season with a flawless performance. Team captain Xavier Juan also took home the Finals MVP honors with his clutch performances serving as the cherry on top of the team’s dominant victory.

May 11: Semifinals (DLSU vs UP) and Finals Stage (DLSU vs FEU)

Earlier in the day, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Aces showcased their hunger for the championship in the semifinals by rallying from an early 0–4 deficit in Game 1 to completely overpower the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in Game 2. After locking in defensively, the Green Aces held UP to just four more rounds for the remainder of the match, before cruising to a 13–7, 13–1 victory in the Sunset and Haven maps.

A few hours later, the Green Aces completed their title defense and clinched a long-awaited back-to-back championship with a hard-fought 13–10, 13–10 win over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Esports Team in the Grand Finals. Their final match became their tightest series of the tournament, but Juan rose to the occasion as the Green Aces team captain consistently stepped up whenever FEU threatened to wrest control from La Salle in both Haven and Split maps.

La Salle came out strong in the grand finals by opening Game 1 with a quick three-round lead that hinted at their championship form. Meanwhile, FEU’s Andro Lapinid had other plans as the Tamaraw powered a momentum shift across just eight rounds to push the Tamaraws ahead, 5–3. The tide turned once again in the later stages, as team captain Juan ignited La Salle’s rally with a clutch play in Round 17 that put them up 9–8. The Green Aces then closed out the map by taking four of the final six rounds, with Juan’s standout 19-kill, seven-assist performance earning him the Game 1 MVP honors.

On the other hand, FEU struck early in Game 2 behind the sharp shooting of Jadine Ladines for a 4–1 advantage. But La Salle remained composed, with the team methodically closing the gap as Juan once again took the reins to push the Green Aces ahead, 9–7. With the score deadlocked at 10–all, Juan delivered a pivotal moment by winning a tense 1v1 duel in Round 21 that lit the fuse for La Salle’s final push. It wasn’t long before the Taft-based squad swept the next three rounds to seal the championship once and for all.

With this triumphant victory, the DLSU Green Aces have etched their names in history not just as back-to-back champions, but as the rising force destined to dominate the UAAP Esports arena. Their unyielding grit and masterful gameplay this season sends out a clear message: The era of the Green and White has just begun. In every clutch play and hard-fought round, the team has redefined what it means to fight for La Salle. And as the dust settles, one thing is certain: The Green Aces are no longer just contenders — they are the dynasty in the making.