AFTER suffering a heartbreaking loss in last year’s world championship, Filipino CODM powerhouse Elevate is back on top.
The “Red Rebellion” reclaimed their place at the summit after defeating longtime rivals Alula Club, 4-2, in the grand finals of Garena Masters X, the notable regional CODM tournament in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The victory not only secured the title but also served as redemption after Alula previously took Garena Masters IX, adding another chapter to one of the region’s fiercest rivalries in the game.
Alula Club entered the tournament with even more firepower, fielding a stacked lineup bannered by Filipino stars FDx, Skerd, Jhai, Indonesian superstar Clove, and newest member Brazilian standout Lucaszin.
Despite the upgraded roster, Elevate once again found a way to prevail when it mattered most.
Both teams dominated the group stage with undefeated runs before taking care of business in the opening round of the playoffs.
Their collision in the upper bracket finals lived up to expectations, going the distance before Elevate edged out Alula in a decisive Game 5 'Search and Destroy' to secure a spot in the grand finals with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Alula, however, refused to back down. They swept past Team Star Magic in the lower bracket finals to earn a rematch, then delivered a statement by winning the first best-of-seven series, 4-2, to force a bracket reset and set the stage for an all-or-nothing showdown.
Riding that momentum, Alula came out firing in the reset, taking the first two maps and even building a 2-0 lead in Game 3 Control. Just one round away from a commanding 3-0 series lead, they had Elevate on the brink of defeat.
But Elevate responded with championship composure.
With their backs against the wall, they strung together three straight rounds to steal the Control map and shift the momentum.
That turning point proved decisive as Elevate rode the surge, winning three more maps to complete four straight victories and close out the series 4-2.
For Elevate, the comeback was rooted in trust and composure under pressure. Peejay pointed to their mindset in the moment, saying, “Sa tingin namin adrenaline na din nagdala sa amin saka tiwala sa isa’t isa dahil wala nang mawawala gawa ng matatalo na din naman, binigay na lang din namin best namin.”
Yop1 emphasized that despite the victory, the team remains focused on growth moving forward.
“Nasa mindset na namin yung pagiging open palagi sa improvements manalo or matalo," he said.
"Kahit panalo kami sa series alam namin sa ibang game may pagkukulang kami kaya need namin mas magbatak pa dahil marami pang tournaments ang padating lalo na ang world championship.”
Head coach Mark “Olea” Olea credited the team’s experience in high pressure situations as a key factor in the comeback.
“Masasabi ko siguro yung experience nila sa laro lalo lagi kami sa lower bracket kaya siguro sanay kami sa mga pressure lalo do or die game. Alam ko na kaya nila mag comeback at ilang beses na namin ginawa ito online at LAN tournament kaya ganun ako katiwala sa kanila.”
The rivalry with Alula Club continues to elevate both teams, especially with the addition of Lucaszin. Susanoo acknowledged their opponent’s growth.
“Nag improve sila sobra, ngayon masasabi ko na talaga na super team sila. Dadating ang panahon na siguradong magiging big threat sila sa lahat.”
With the victory, Elevate secures the lion’s share of the prize pool worth $20,000 USD, while Alula Club takes home $9,000 USD. More importantly, both teams, along with Team Star Magic, Elunari Esports, Skaeri, and Elite Ascend, have qualified for the Garena Summer Invitational set for April to May, which will feature an offline LAN grand finals.
Despite reclaiming the crown, Elevate is already looking ahead for future tournaments moving forward, and coach Olea made it clear that the team is far from satisfied.
“Gagalingan pa lalo namin sa upcoming tournaments lalo na sa world championship para ipakita sa mga tao na kaya pa naman manalo ulit sa world stage.”
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