REDEMPTION stories in esports rarely come full circle this quickly, but for Elevate, the moment finally arrived.
The Filipino powerhouse scored a long-awaited bounce back victory over Chinese squad Q9 in the Call of Duty: Mobile (CDM) Spring 2026 international tournament, erasing the sting of last year’s World Championship defeat and securing a return to the global stage in China for the offline LAN finals this coming May 10.
The international tournament, which has a total prize pool of 300,000 USD (approximately 18.5 million pesos), was not just another series win for Elevate --it meant a whole lot more because of the history and the stakes at hand.
At the center of it all was Patrick “Peejay” Sagudo, whose raw emotion after the victory captured the weight of everything Elevate had gone through to get back here.
While his teammates celebrated, Peejay broke down to tears on stream after their huge win, overwhelmed by a moment that represented months of sacrifice, pressure, and a promise he made to himself after falling short on the world stage last year.
“After ng panalo sa Q9 iba naramdaman ko dahil dinedicate ko talaga lahat para makalipad (sa China) saka para sa mga sumusuporta sa akin kaya para sakin di lang yun isang panalo lang,” Peejay said.
More than just a win; a victory that meant more
For Elevate, beating Q9 was about proving that they still belong at the top.
“Unang una masaya kasi kaya pa rin namin sumabay sa malalakas kagaya ng Q9,” said John Kenneth “KenDy” Pimentel. “Pero hindi pa rin satisfied kasi World Champion ulit yung goal namin.”
After being at the top of the world in the game, Elevate reflects a team that refuses to settle. Even after achieving redemption, their sights remain fixed on reclaiming the biggest prize in CODM once more this year.
Team captain John “Yop1” Manalang echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how much this victory meant beyond the scoreboard.
“Nakakatuwa na nakakaiyak kasi makakalipad ulit kami sa ibang bansa para i-represent ang Garena region,” he said.
“Sa tingin ko nagadjust kami sa rest namin and tamang warm up before ang laban kasi don kami mas malakas at nakakakuha momentum para ma close out yung series.”
What made this run even more impressive was how far Elevate had to climb just to get to the top. Unlike their dominant campaigns in the past, this season tested them in ways they were not used to.
Early struggles in the group stage saw them drop games and lose their usual grip on tournaments, finishing with a 9-4 record and falling into the lower bracket.
For a team known for setting the standard, it was unfamiliar territory, yet the early losses were not without purpose.
The team battled and worked hard to bounce back and it definitely paid off. That grind through the lower bracket became the turning point of their campaign.
But if there is one thing Elevate has proven over the years, it is their ability to thrive under pressure. Against Q9, that identity showed once again.
After building an early lead, surrendering momentum, and facing a tied series, Elevate never lost composure. Instead, they leaned on experience, trust, and a mindset forged through years of high-stakes matches.
That clutch factor has defined Elevate’s legacy, and it was on full display when they closed out Q9 to secure their spot in China.
Karlo “kLo” Morales pointed to the team’s chemistry as the foundation of their resilience.
“Ang masasabi ko sa chemistry at trust namin ay marami na kami napagdaanan para lang maabot ang ganitong chemistry at trust,” he said. “Syempre may mga pagkakamali parin kami along the way, may mga misunderstandings, pero dun namin yun na f-fix.”
Their lower bracket run only strengthened that bond. “Siguro mas nagigising lang kami at mas na lalabas namin laro namin sa lower bracket dahil feeling namin na baka eto na yung huling laro namin kaya sobrang nag a-all out na kami,” kLo added.
For Olea, Peejay’s emotional reaction after the win was a reflection of everything the team had invested into this journey.
“Masasabi ko na sobrang proud ako sa kanya dahil sa dedication nya sa pag lalaro,” Olea said. “Lagi ko sinasabe sa kanya na lagi nya lang bibigay best nya bawat laro matalo or manalo. Proud ako sa kanya at sa kanilang lahat.”
From the heartbreak of losing to Q9 on the world stage, to fighting through a difficult season this year, to finally overcoming them when it mattered most, Elevate completed their redemption arc in dramatic fashion.
Eyes on the bigger prize
With the victory, Elevate now heads to China for the offline LAN finals. They will be competing once more from the lower bracket, and are hoping to produce yet another signature win for the chance to face fellow Filipino CODM squad Alula Club in the grand finals.
Elevate comes into the CDM 2026 Finals with not just momentum but belief. They have proven they can adapt and that they can overcome adversity. But most importantly, they have proven they still have what it takes to beat the team that once denied them.
For them, it is only the beginning of another chase and grind throughout the year to put themselves in a position to try and win it all again. Because even after redemption, one goal remains unchanged: to become CODM world champions once again.
And it all starts with aiming to win their first international tournament of the year.
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