Coming back from a 0-2 lead, the Computer Studies (CS) Chameleons flickered their true colors in a stunning comeback push against the Accountancy (ACC) Griffins, clinching a high-stakes victory in the grand finals of the Palarong Atenista 2025: Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) Tournament.
After losing the first two games, the CS Chameleons roster of Luis “MIRACLEE” Palparan, Vince “Niks” Ledesma, Yuri “Yuri” Banaag, Marc “Xeno-” Bujawe, Shawn “VanixLi” Miguel, Leonard “Zen” Gonzales, and Kobe “KOBZU GOD” Lopez bounced back on a game three against the ACC Griffins, extending their chances for a championship run.
Both CS Chameleons and ACC Griffins were on equal footing in the early game; however, CS Chameleons’ Bujawe’s Lancelot camouflaged himself to secure the first turtle, leading them to snowball their objective advantage in the rest of the game.
During the fourth match, CS Chameleons dominated the battlefield with Ledesma’s Mathilda pressuring opponents with an offensive ploy, obtaining the first blood following a double kill and securing the first turtle for the team, setting the tempo for the game with 19-4 in kills and 9-0 in turrets, and tying the teams’ scores at 2-2.
With the players picking comfort heroes after a 10-ban draft pick, ACC Griffins and CS Chameleons enter into a momentum-shifting match, with the former holding out a static defense and the latter executing a strategic offense.
In the shortest match of the grand finals, CS Chameleons showcased their team’s chemistry and mastery, starting with Bujawe’s Hayabusa, first blood in the first minute, and spearheading the whole team’s domination for the whole 13 minutes into the game.
CS Chameleon’s team captain, fighter role, and overall MVP, Luis Palparan, shared the team’s overall strategy in ensuring that their skills in the game would reflect in their performance during their matches.
“Confident na kaayo ko sa among mechanical skills and hero mastery, so ang kulang lang kay murag ang chemistry, so nag-focus mi didto ug sa pag outdrop sa kalaban, discipline din,” he stated.
CS Chameleon’s mage Yuri Banaag underscored the importance of trying out different strategies as a team to ensure choosing the best game plan possible.
“‘Yung pag-run namin sa eliminations and semis is nakadagdag ng confidence sa amin, since ‘di kami natalo elims to semis, and then gi-try din namin ‘yung mag-change change ng player, so naka-build din kami ng chemistry dahil doon.”
CS Chameleon’s core player Marc Bujawe revealed the preparations that the team took, referencing their opponents’ past matches as a technique to maximize the 10-ban draft pick.
“I think sa game 3 hangtod 5, gitarong jud namo’g draft, since ang rule man kay global ban, gi tan-aw namo unsa ilang gigamit last games, so gi-ban namo ilang possible picks nga kung unsa na klase nga hero, which is utility, so gi-ban namo na’g maayo. Wa namo sila gipa-pick, and nag-pick lang mi’g assassin, which is lugi sila sa assassin, and mao ‘to, victorious mi.”
He also highlighted the mental challenges that the team faced in starting off the finals down 0-2 during the grand finals.
“Honestly, lisod jud kaayo ‘to siya, especially sa mental, kay since nakauna sila ug 2 sa amoa, kami ang pressured kaayo, since para sa amoa, isa na lang kapildihan mi, wala na. And sila, confident kaayo sila, since na-win streak pa sila sa amoa, so lisod jud kaayo ‘to siya para sa amoa,” Bujawe added.
Following the CS Chameleons’ gold are the ACC Griffins claiming silver and the SEA Tigers closing bronze.
The MLBB grand finals tournament was live streamed via Palarong Atenista’s Facebook Page and held at Arrupe Hall on September 28.