UP EVT is built from the ground up by its charter members, all of whom are part of the UP Diliman student body. The team was formed in response to the addition of esports as a special event in UAAP S86, answering the university’s call for official varsity representation. A skeletal structure of talented players were then gathered, slowly expanding every year. S86 was used to test training and internal structuring, S87 for media push, S88 for more physical events. All operations fall on their shoulders, from scouting by word of mouth, hiring professional coaches, and figuring out marketing and sponsorship strategies. “We really had [only] ourselves during the early stages of EVT,” recounts former VALORANT Captain and current assistant coach Anton Somera. Esports as a varsity endeavor is still largely uncharted, and as such, there is no preexisting playbook; the members of EVT are defining what it means to represent the University as they go. “Right now, esports still has a complicated identity in the eyes of others. We are trying to break that cycle at a university-wide scale so that people will understand what we can bring to the table as a representative of the Fighting Maroons.”

But being young and new spurs them to strive for excellence. Having something to prove works to their advantage, even as they encounter technical, social, and institutional challenges along the way. “We wanted to gain experience, but at the same time, we wanted to make EVT known and establish our presence in the esports community,” says MLBB player Kin Martinez. On the community’s misconceptions, he says, “I think the best way to overcome [the perception that esports is just a hobby] isn’t by arguing with people, but by showing through our actions that we take it seriously.” 

Nathan Danac, S86 VALORANT team leader recalls how his parents were wary of the idea of “gaming” at the start. “Understandably, [they] viewed it as a disturbance to my studies.” Director Zoe Soliva corroborates, “[It was] the typical scenario of ‘kaka-computer mo yan!’ and players hiding the fact that they were practicing from their families.” But this is where the intentionality of the team and its leadership rises to the challenge of shifting perceptions. “This motivated me to reach out to parents and also market our team well for them to recognise the value and exposure this sport was giving to their children,” says Soliva. Danac’s parents came around. “At that point, they were already supportive and even bought me a PC so I could have better opportunities in esports,” he says. 

Beyond the home, institutional support is still also largely lacking. Traditionally, UP recruits varsity players under VAAS, a system that admits athletes to the university and commits them to serve their sports team for 4-5 years. Without the support and reach of this system, balancing commitment to the team with other obligations becomes difficult. Soliva says, “Keep[ing] people motivated, committed, and focused on EVT work when they have other commitments and aren’t technically obligated to prioritize us [remains a challenge].” Danac acknowledges the support from the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development, and Nowhere to Go But UP, an alumni foundation. “[But] there was definitely a learning curve for everyone involved on how esports works, and what kind of support they would need to provide to best enable our team.” 

The discipline and commitment required to advance video games into the varsity level is no different from the discipline and structure of athletic training, and the fruits of it are the same: both outward skill and the character built by the responsibility and pride of representing something greater than the self. “I see the hunger, not just in the players, but in our managers and staff too, to push ourselves and succeed,” says Danac. Soliva continues, ”I constantly asked myself how to reconcile video games and varsity work – how to convert this recreational hobby into a productive activity […] and to build a culture where people carry a drive to win.”