By Yani Ferrer

By Soleina Vasquez

Embracing the role of giant-killers, Solinas clawed their way out of the upper bracket of the Loyola Gaming E-sportsfest 2026 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Grade 12 division after an earlier loss to Bobola, before toppling the previously undefeated Anchieta in a gripping 3–2 grand finals thriller at the second-floor Formation and Learning Center (FLC) assembly space on Monday, January 19.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) class Solinas, composed of Lorenzo Cruz, Simone Marucot, Miguel Santos, Jamilla Vejerano, and Lance Tiangco, outgunned Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM)-Anchieta’s Frinz Thoby Quezada, Daniel Legaspi, Jobert Arellano, Miguel Jalit, and Max Favila in total kills, posting tallies of 34–27, 26–20, 10–25, 8–24, and 17–9 across five games.

Anchieta took first blood, but Solinas wasted little time getting ahold of the lead back as they never loosened their grip, riding a dominant early-game snowball capped by an MVP-level performance to close out a 34–27 win at the 22:33 mark.

The STEM section mirrored their first-game play in the second game — as if the results were already set in stone — overpowering ABM early game and ending strong with Vejerano stealing a triple kill as Karrie, 26-20, at 21:59.

However, things started to click for Anchieta in the third and fourth game as they flipped the script, ending both matches in just 13 mins and evening the series with decisive 25–10 and 24–8 routs.

With the championship hanging in the balance, Solinas recalibrated in Game 5 as Vejerano ignited the decider with a Maniac just two minutes in to spark an early 5–0 surge.

Smelling blood, Solinas secured the lord of the game at 10:15 while holding a 9–2 advantage and weathered a late triple kill from Quezada before marching down the lanes to seal the crown with a 17–9 finish.

“They played good, really good,” Tiangco commended Anchieta. “They were doing an UBE (Ultimate Bonding Experience) strategy. Since the third game and the fourth, they [Anchieta] did an UBE [strategy].”

He added that Solinas cracked Anchieta’s setup by drafting for more splash damage, particularly through Valir.

“Sayang, sayang, pero it’s okay. Proud ako sa teammates ko kasi grabe ‘yung paghanda namin kanina — simula sa drafting, sa picking, tapos sa pag-rotate. Sobrang proud ako sa kanila,” expressed Quezada, who tried to initiate a late comeback.

The Grade 12 division ended with Anchieta trailing behind champions Solinas, followed by Beyzym, Bobola, Oldcorne, Xavier, Gonzalez, Sullivan, Arnaiz, Denn, Navarro, Ogilvie, Acquaviva, Geronimo, Pro, and Walpole.