The Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 concluded on Sunday with two new esports champions in DOTA 2 and VALORANT. The event, held at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines, featured 26 teams from across the region competing for the coveted Predator Shield and a share of the USD$ 200,000 prize pool. The event also showcased the talents of local artists and attracted a large online audience via the Predator social media channels.
Andrew Hou, President of Acer Pan Asia Pacific Operations, praised the success of the event and the esports community in the region.
“The success of the Asia Pacific Predator League 2024 is indicative of the strength of the region’s growing esports community and the Predator brand devices’ ability to support intense gaming sessions when playing the most popular titles,” Hou said. “I would like to extend my congratulations to the tournament winners and my heartfelt appreciation to all the players, fans, and staff who make this yearly event possible.”
In the DOTA 2 grand finals, Blacklist Rivalry defeated fellow Filipino team Execration in a dominant performance. Abed “Abed” Yusop led the charge for Blacklist Rivalry, averaging 8.5 kills and 14 assists in the series. Execration’s star Mark “Bob” Urbino was shut down, resulting in a second-place finish for his team for the second year in a row.
Blacklist Rivalry claimed the USD$ 65,000 first prize, while Execration settled for USD$ 20,000. Team Aster from China and IHC Esports from Mongolia finished third and fourth, respectively, and received USD$ 7,500 each.
In the VALORANT grand finals, Team Secret proved their status as the favorites by sweeping FAV gaming from Japan. Adrian “invy” Reyes was the standout player for Team Secret, also known as the “The Adobo Gang” among their fans.
This was the first LAN trophy and Predator Shield for Team Secret’s VALORANT team. Team Secret took home the USD$ 65,000 first prize, while FAV gaming earned USD$ 20,000. BOOM Esports from Indonesia and Team Flash from Vietnam placed third and fourth, respectively, and received USD$ 7,500 each.
The Intel MVP Award was given to the most exceptional players in each category. For DOTA 2, it was awarded to carry player Polo “Raven” Fausto from Blacklist Rivalry, while for VALORANT it was awarded to duelist player Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera from Team Secret. Both players received an extra USD$ 10,000 prize and the Intel MVP Award Trophy.
The event also featured world-class entertainment from the Philippines’ top artists, such as Acer ambassadors SB19 and Sarah Geronimo. Day 1 opened with Felip and Ylona Garcia, followed by Urbandub, Al James, and Donny Pangilinan. Day 2 showcased Josh Cullen, Sandwich, Spongecola, Pablo, and KZ Tandingan, who sang the Predator anthem, “It Lies Within.”
The next Asia Pacific Predator League will be held in Malaysia, with the qualifiers starting in late 2024 and the grand finals to be held in early 2025. For more information and updates about the Predator League, visit the official website www.predator-league.com.
