Five years after their last grand finals showdown, the Computer Studies (CS) Chameleons repeated history against the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Tigers, snaring them 3-0 to defend their title in this year’s Palarong Atenista Valorant championship. 

Despite the heavy pressure to continue their reign, CS Chameleons’ team captain Julian Paolo “yam安吉” Trinidad emphasizes that preparation and mutual trust were key to keeping the team grounded.

“We knew we had expectations to live up to, so we put a lot of time into scrims and team building to make sure we were prepared. We focused on trusting each other, improving together, and making sure we were ready to perform when it mattered most,” he said.

After losing to the SEA Tigers in the elimination stage, CS Chameleons bounced back in game 1 on Lotus, seizing an early lead and tying 6-6 in the first half. CS Chameleons locked down their offense, conceding just two rounds in the second half, closing the game 13-8.

In game 2 on Abyss, CS Chameleons shut down SEA Tigers’ early momentum to end the first half at 8-4, before securing a 13-6 win with multiple clutch plays and continuous scoring.

CS Chameleons’ Rowie Adrian “Zerex” Managbanag described game 2 as where they “showed a dominant run,” with successful retakes and “nasty one taps.”

Braving a make-or-break game 3 on Sunset, SEA Tigers had a strong start and managed to widen the gap to 7-5 in the first half. However, CS Chameleons quickly caught up and ultimately won 13-9, claiming the championship title.

This back-to-back win marks their sixth consecutive podium placement since Valorant’s inclusion in Palarong Atenista.

Managbanag noted that their victory was due to their dedicated effort to develop chemistry under a tight timeline.

“I think one of the biggest factors was our effort to build our team synergy in a short period of time, as only Chicco (Trinidad) and I were the only players left from the previous year. It was definitely not smooth sailing, as it took us some time to find our groove even during scrimmages… but we managed to pull through and take the dub quite convincingly with a 3-0,” Managbanag explained.

Trinidad attributed the cluster’s consistent success to trust and confidence in each other, as well as a shared love for the game.

“The core of CS Chameleons has always been to W-key, have fun, and trust our teammates. We trusted our mechanics, trusted the practice we had put in, and most importantly, we enjoyed playing the game we love,” he expressed. 

The SEA Tigers claimed silver, while the School of Nursing (SON) Panthers rounded out the podium with bronze.

The Valorant championship was held at the Computer Laboratory and live-streamed on the SAMAHAN Palarong Atenista’s Facebook page on October 4.