The Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 Grand Finals roared to life with a spectacular showcase of talent and intense matchups during the Group Stages. As the dust settled, Filipino teams emerged as powerful contenders, leaving their mark on the premier esports tournament featuring 26 VALORANT and Dota 2 teams competing for the prestigious Predator Shield and a share of the US$200,000 prize pool.
In the realm of Dota 2, Blacklist Rivalry and Execration, both hailing from the Philippines, secured their places in the semi-finals, showcasing their prowess among the elite competitors.
Blacklist Rivalry, led by the internationally acclaimed midlaner Abed Yusop, exceeded expectations by dominating Group A with an impeccable 4-0 record. Their methodical gameplay dismantled opponents systematically, with an average match duration of just 30 minutes. The offlaner, Kim “Gabbi” Santos, also played a pivotal role, contributing an impressive 59 assists across their matches.
Execration, despite sharing a group with the formidable Blacklist Rivalry, secured a semi-final spot with only one defeat against their compatriots. Mark ‘Bob’ Urbino led the charge with an outstanding 11 KDA ratio, securing victories against Mythic Avenue Gaming from Malaysia, ZOL Esports from the Philippines, and Whoops from India.
On the other side of the Dota 2 bracket, China’s Team Aster, led by Gu “Han” Jiahan in the midlane, topped Group B. The Chinese powerhouse lost only one match in the Group Stages against fellow semi-finalist IHC Esports. Meanwhile, the Mongolian representatives displayed their improving quality, creating magical moments in LAN events throughout the year.
In the VALORANT arena, Team Secret from the Philippines emerged undefeated in Group D, delivering commanding performances against TODAK from Malaysia and Singapore’s Ender Dragon. Unfortunately, other Filipino squads Oasis Gaming and ZOL Esports couldn’t progress beyond their respective groups.
Team Secret is set to face tough competition in the VALORANT semi-finals against Team Flash from Vietnam, FAV Gaming from Japan, and Indonesia’s BOOM Esports. Both FAV Gaming and BOOM Esports were undefeated in Group A and Group C, respectively.
With two more exhilarating days of high-stakes competition ahead, the SM MOA Arena in Manila is poised to witness another thrilling chapter in esports history on 13 and 14 January 2024.