Meeting them there is Malaysia’s Alpha Gaming. Can they overcome their nemesis?
It’s the moment of truth for BOOM Esports as they’ll be facing their toughest challenge yet at the KIC 2025 lower bracket quarterfinals. They’ll be facing Alpha Gaming, Malaysia’s third seed and the team who originally sent them to the lower bracket.
As the Philippines’ second seed, BOOM have proven themselves to be no pushovers in KIC 2025. They dispatched both of Indonesia’s second and third seeds in their journey through the lower bracket rather easily, guaranteeing them their highest finish in an international tournament in the team’s history. Yet even with that milestone, BOOM are still not satisfied.
“Siyempre, hindi mawawala yung saya,” said BOOM Esports’s Jungler Karl “Karlll” Bautista in an interview with the media. “Kasi out of 16 teams, naka-top six kami. Pero feel ko marami pa rin kailangan i-improve.”
“May times na nagiging tense yung mga comms namin,” added BOOM Esports’ Bot Laner John “Daniii” Bulanadi. “And dahil nagiging tense yung mga comms namin, medyo nadi-distract kami sa nangyayari sa game.”
That could explain why they tend to be so scrappy, even during their wins. But despite this weakness, BOOM are very confident in their ability to take on any team they face. And there’s only one team they have their sights set on right now.
“We want [Alpha Gaming],” said BOOM Esports’ coach Larry “Crow” Banche Jr. “Kumbaga, ilang beses na kami nagtapat, and sa playstyle, mas-gusto namin labanan sila. Magiging sapakan yung laban for sure.”
Putting One on the Board
It should be noted that BOOM has yet to even take a game from Alpha Gaming. They were swept 3-0 by them in the upper bracket of the group stage, and supposedly they were also winless against Alpha Gaming during their scrims in the China bootcamp.
Of course, that’s not going to stop BOOM. The team is headstrong and determined, and they’re not going to let something like a winless record deter them from getting their revenge.
“Dahil maraming times natatalo kami sa kanila, marami din kami natututo sa kanila,” said BOOM Esport’s Daniii. “Doon sa talo, nagpre-prepare din kami para matalo namin sila.”
Will that be enough for them to win a game against Alpha gaming? Or maybe even take the series? We’ll have to wait and see.
Banner photo from Level Infinite.