After a 0-3 sweep in last year’s Palarong Atenista Valorant Grand Finals, the Computer Studies (CS) Chameleons staged a redemption arc as they dethroned their long-time rival, the Business and Management (B&M) Vipers, 3-1, in this year’s championship clash.

In game 1 on Lotus, the Chameleons surged to a 6-4 halftime lead, and despite the Vipers tying it 9-9 in round 18, the Chameleons regained control to close the map 13-10, setting an early finals momentum.

Facing elimination, the Vipers took control in game 2, leading 10-7 by round 16, but the Chameleons rallied with clutch plays and site retakes to force a 13-11 comeback win. 

The Vipers struck back in game 3, breaking through Chameleons’ setups with aggressive site hits to snag a 13-10 victory

However, in game 4 on Bind, the Chameleons dictated the tempo with a commanding 10-6 lead by round 16 before Riadyn “mang0” Laquite delivered the finishing blow on match point with an “ace”, clutching a tense 2v2 by eliminating the last two Vipers to lock in the 13-7 victory that crowned CS champions.

CS Chameleon’s Karl “mugiwara” Natividad topped the scoreboards with a combat score of 312, closely followed by teammate Riadyn “mang0” Laquite with 299, while B&M’s Kyle “yappin” Yap anchored his squad’s effort.

Natividad highlighted that last year’s loss fueled their redemption run, propelling them to a hard-fought victory over their longtime rivals. 

“After last year’s loss, we were devastated, especially me as the captain, but that motivated us to push harder… Bringing back the gold this year means everything.”

The CS Chameleons’ powerhouse roster of Karl Justin Natividad, Tristan Vincent Lemana, Adrian Seth Gallardo, Julian Paolo Trinidad, Riadyn Laquite, Ian Florenz Tenebroso, Rowie Adrian Managbanag, and Jhon Glen Fabul rose to the occasion, proving they were no longer the underdogs but the unstoppable force of the tournament. 

“Our schedules were tight because most of us are in our 4th year, but we still made time to practice three times a week. We built our synergy not just through scrims but through late-night calls where we got close as friends. Our strategy was simple: shoot what you see,” Natividad added.

The CS Chameleons clasped the gold, while the B&M Vipers snagged silver, and the Social Sciences (SS) Dragons settled for bronze on the podium.

The Valorant Championship was held on September 21 at the NCGC HQ Esports Hub, 2F Tongson Building, Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City.