THE UST Teletigers Esports Club thrashed the Adamson Esports Team, 2-0, in the group stage of the UAAP Season 87 esports NBA2K tournament at the Gateway 2 Quantum Skyview on Thursday, May 15.
UST secured the top seed heading into the playoffs after finishing an unblemished 3-0 blitz in Group B, while Adamson obtained a 2-1 record.
In the first game, UST’s Gideon Marty del Val used the Boston Celtics against the Minnesota Timberwolves of Adamson’s Regimio Aguinaldo III.
The Teletigers built a six-point lead in the opening frame and maintained control throughout the first half, 39-26. UST’s del Val outscored almost half of his opponent to widen the gap in the third quarter, 60-36, before cruising past to a 77-51 victory.
It was a neck-and-neck battle in the second match between UST bet Eryx delos Reyes’ Philadelphia 76ers and Adamson player Joaquin Obando’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Delos Reyes led throughout the first half but Obando rallied in the third frame to cut the deficit to one, 52-51.
Obando briefly overtook delos Reyes with three minutes left in the final quarter, 58-54. However, delos Reyes responded in clutch by sinking back-to-back threes and an and-one play to retake the lead and seal the victory, 65-60.
“We think what really helped us this season is that we are formed as a team, compared to last season, when we were representing ourselves. We are really confident this season because we know each other’s capabilities,” delos Reyes told The Flame.
“I just stayed patient and waited for the perfect timing to get my momentum back and make sure to close out the game.”
The UST Teletigers will face the DLSU Esports team in the playoffs on Friday, May 16, at the same venue.
“We will just prepare and practice the things that we need to adjust. We will just make sure that we fix all our errors and minimize our mistakes,” delos Reyes said. F
