by Vince Justin Uy Tiu Phi Φ2019B and Karl Gerard Reyes Crisostomo Φ2019B
Competition for supremacy over the Land of Dawn ensued as the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity organized its first foray into the realm of esports: The Frontliners Cup: An Online Charity Tournament. With the country reeling from the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fraternity spearheaded an event that would help foster camaraderie and forge a competitive spirit among its participants while adhering to social distancing rules and rendering aid to the medical frontliners whose valiant efforts have kept the virus at bay. Sixteen teams bravely showed up for the opportunity to compete and showcase their skills, teamwork, and camaraderie in front of thousands of viewers, competing for a chance to win various prizes included in the 15,000-peso prize pool.
The tournament consisted of two rounds: the first consisted of a single-elimination bracket, where teams who lost their respective matches were immediately removed from the tournament, and the second round, composed of the last 8 teams, which utilized a double-elimination format where losing teams were allowed to redeem themselves by battling against other teams who also lost until there were only two teams left to battle toe-to-toe in the Grand Finals.
When the dust settled after the first round of battles, 8 teams rose to the challenge and took the opportunity to showcase their skills in the second round, which was streamed on Facebook Live. Fans happily engaged with the hosts Denzel Cruz Umerez Φ2019A and Aldrix Rosal Anarna Φ2017B, requesting shout-outs and in-game analysis of the matchups. Each game was electrifying and nail-biting in their own right as any team could tip the game in their favor at any point of the match. Two fan favorites were identified in this tournament: LockedOn Esports, with its young core whose skill could match pro-players, and Laking Lara Hall, led by JAY ZY, one of the top Natalia players in the Philippines.
Little did the audience know that there were gems among the other teams. Sergeant Squad, Medyo Dungol, 911, Squad Paklo, Hot Dawgs, and Sibol Esports also showed flashes of brilliance in the first round. They made quick work of their matchups as most concluded their respective games within 20 minutes. In the second round, however, most of the games they played were nail-biting as they faced each other. Matched in skill, it all boiled down to good coordination, decisive action, and luck. Most of their games were decided by a do-or-die match because it always ended in a stalemate score of 1-1.
The only exception to the trend were the favorites, Laking Lara Hall and LockedOn Esports. En route to clinching a spot in the grand finals, Laking Lara Hall experienced a relatively smooth sailing journey but had its fair share of close calls as they faced skilled teams such as Squad Paklo and Medyo Dungol. On the other hand, LockedOn Esports made short work of their matchups with fantastic coordination and well-timed clashes. LockedOn Esports and Laking Lara Hall would then go on to face each other in the Grand Finals, with a best-of-five match that would determine the first-ever winner of the Frontliners Cup. LockedOn Esports took the title in dominating fashion, taking a 3-0 win against Laking Lara Hall, most notably taking a decisive victory in a tightly contested Game 2 where Laking Lara Hall had the upper hand. LockedOn was able to showcase its strategic prowess with a diversion clash in the jungle while one of its members, AC Bonifacio, sneaked to the enemy base and destroyed the nexus. Players and fans alike were pleased with the outcome of the tournament.
The three best-performing teams throughout the tournament were: LockedOn Esports (1st), Laking Lara Hall (2nd), and Medyo Dungol (3rd). These teams were awarded cash prizes of PhP 10,000, PhP 3,000, and PhP 1,000, respectively. The fraternity also held a skin prize raffle for players and viewers who stay tuned throughout the tournament series; a total of 11 winners were chosen for the raffle.
In the end, the fraternity was able to raise a total of PhP 92,500 that will be used to fund projects of the Fraternity’s service arm Pagkalinga sa Kalusugan ng Mamamayan (PagKalMa) such as Mobile Blood Drives and Usapang Isipan, and also render aid to the ongoing fundraising initiative of the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority: Frontliners for the Frontlines, which seeks to support and aid frontliners nationwide as they continue to battle the scourge of the pandemic. While this may have only been the fraternity’s first foray into such an event, its success has ensured that it won’t be the last. Indeed, the Frontliners Cup stands as a testament to the four pillars of the Phi Kappa Mu and serves as a reminder that the Fraternity always finds a way to serve the country, especially in the darkest of times.
