THE CALL OF DUTY: Mobile (CODM) scene in the Philippines has never been more electrifying. With Elevate Esports qualifying once again to defend their world title and Stalwart Esports breaking through as serious contenders, the country is sending not just one, but two powerhouse teams to the CODM World Championship 2025.
These two familiar squads are heading back to the world stage after forging one of the fiercest rivalries in the region, pushing each other to new heights, yet sharing mutual respect as representatives of Philippine esports.
For Elevate, the mission is simple but daunting: defend their world title and make history. For Stalwart, it’s about proving they belong among the elite after finally overcoming Elevate in the upper bracket finals in the Garena Regional Qualifiers and booking their ticket to the CODM World Championship.
Elevate: Defending the throne for back-to-back titles
Fresh from clinching CODM Worlds qualification once again, Elevate head coach Mark Alexis Olea reflected on what it means to return to CODM’s biggest stage. “Syempre masaya kaming lahat dahil nakabalik ulit kami sa world stage and nagbunga yung mga pinagpaguran namin araw-araw,” Olea shared.
He added: “Mas gagalingan pa namin lalo sa worlds stage para ma-defend ulit yung world title and makagawa ng history para sa bansa natin.”
For Elevate, the challenge isn’t just about winning again — it’s about handling the pressure of being at the top. Their coach knows that the expectations are high, and discipline will be key.
“Mas malakas na Elevate pa makikita nila dahil mas didisiplinahin ko sila lalo at pag hihirapan pa namin lalo para hindi namin sila mabigo na mag back-to-back world champ," said Coach Olea.
Still, Olea admits that Stalwart’s rise has been instrumental to Elevate’s own growth. Facing an opponent capable of beating them was exactly what they needed to sharpen their edge.
Stalwart notably pushed down Elevate to the lower bracket after beating them 3-0 in the upper bracket finals to clinch their world championship slot.
“Yung paglakas ng Stalwart natulungan kami lalo lumakas, dahil nagkaron kami ng kalaban na kaya kami talunin at yun yung nag-ddrive samin na mas lumakas pa.”
Stalwart: The Hunters have arrived and are hungry for more
On the other side, Stalwart Esports enter the World Championship with momentum and belief. Their breakthrough came with the roster addition of Jhairylle Jhay “Jhai” Calano, a move that transformed the squad both in skill and mentality, according to sniper main Shan Rouise Mateo.
“Jhai changed the whole team not just because of his skills but his dedication to motivate our team to grind more,” Mateo said. “That made our team really unstoppable and head-to-head with Elevate much smoother.”
Their landmark victory over Elevate in the semifinals was a statement — but also a lesson.
“Beating Elevate in the semis and securing the slot for Stage 5 was really memorable. But at the same time, it was a mistake,” Mateo admitted. “We were already okay with it, but we must know that we must be hungry for more and not stop just because we already have our goal. With this experience, we will apply it in Worlds and be dominant.”
The message from Stalwart is loud and clear: they’re not just happy to be at Worlds.
“Expect us to be more hungry in getting that world champion trophy,” Mateo promised.
Rivals on stage, brothers off it
Despite their intense battles, both teams stressed that the rivalry never crosses the line. Elevate’s Olea noted that professionalism keeps things balanced. “In game, magkalaban talaga kami at iba tingin namin sa kanila, pero outside the game magkaibigan pa rin kami. Nasa pagiging professional na lang yan, both sides.”
Mateo echoed that sentiment, pointing out that the competitive fire stays within the server. “Trash talk and everything is just for show in the game. We don’t take it personally because we are professionals in the first place,” he explained. “What stays in the game doesn’t affect our relationship outside. In the end, we are representing Garena and we will be helping each other.”
A united mission for the Philippines
At the end of the day, Elevate and Stalwart may be rivals, but they share the same mission: to bring pride to the Philippines on the world stage.
Olea summed it up with a message for all competitors. “Tuloy lang tayo sa pagiging better araw-araw. Kami, ginagawa lang namin yung best namin para maging consistent at mapakita yung hard work. Sana lahat tayo mag-enjoy sa laro at sabay-sabay umangat.”
As the CODM World Championship draws near, the Philippines will have two formidable squads to cheer for — Elevate, the defending kings, and Stalwart, the hungry challengers. One chasing history, the other chasing destiny.
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