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| (Image Source: Gadget Pilipinas/Predator Gaming) |
After the postponement of its 2020 edition due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic across the region, the Asia Pacific Predator League 2020/21 made its triumphant return and successfully staged its Grand Final last April 6-11, 2021 where eSports players from seventeen different countries in Asia Pacific have vied for pride and glory and brought the six-day virtual professional gaming showdown to an exciting end. The online tournament featuring DOTA 2 and Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) has garnered more than 17 million views with several networks carrying the showcase to audiences across the region.
TNC Predator took home the 2020/21 APAC Predator League DOTA 2 division crown after beating fellow Filipino eSports team Neon eSports, 2-0, thanks to the brilliant play of offlaner Jun Kanehara as Bloodseeker, the consistency of Kim Villafuerte as the hard carry, a "next level play" of Arnel Tabios, and several playmaking skills from team captain Marvin Rushton in a best-of-three grand finals series where teams are played on a DOTA 2 7.29 patch. TNC is looking to rack up more points in the second season of the DOTA Pro Circuit (DPC) in order to earn direct qualification to The Internationals.
In the PUBG division, Indonesia's Eagle 365 prevailed and bested fifteen other squads from across the region after garnering a total of 125 points and the most number of rounds won after 12 rounds of play with Cerberus and N1 of Vietnam finishing second and third places after gaining 104 and 97 points, respectively, throughout the said round. On the other hand, three representative teams from South Korea took center stage in the PUBG Asia sub tournament but it was DWG-KIA that came out on top with a total of 142 points after twelve rounds in Erangel and Miramar. Securing second and third places in the said tournament are GPS Ghibli and Danawa eSports.
The winning teams will take home a share of the US$240,000 bonus pool as well as the priced Predator Shields. Meanwhile, Erin Jasper "Yopaj" Ferrer from DOTA 2 division first runner-up Neon eSports and Risky "Chibiritt" Junaidi Putra from PUBG division champion Eagle 365 were hailed as league MVPs for showcasing prodigious skills in their respective divisions. Following the highly successful run, it was announced that Japan will be hosting next year's Asia Pacific Predator League.
