Xipto Esports hoped to fly the Philippine flag all the way to the Grand Finals of the APAC Predator League in New Delhi, India. But BOOM Esports who were parading Masters winner and Gambit Esports superstar Nikita ‘d3ffo’ Sudakov were not going to be denied after a disappointing 2025 VALORANT campaign. BOOM Esports convincingly swept Xipto Esports 2-0 to move on to the Grand Finals.

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Explosive firepower from BOOM Esports

Xipto Esports couldn’t hold on to their great start in Haven, the first map of the series. John Timothy ‘JA’ Arone’s Killjoy was a rock in the first map racking up 21 kills and 4 first kills. BOOM Esports finally woke up in explosive fashion in the second half. D3ffo, who was on Killyjoy, ended up being the difference maker for BOOM Esports. He and the rest of BOOM Esports turned things around allowing only three rounds for the Filipino side.

With their tournament lives on the line, Xipto Esports had to win in Bind, the map pick of BOOM Esports. It once against started out competitively for BOOM Esports with the first 10 rounds having going five rounds apiece for the dueling squad. This time, it was another fresh BOOM Esports recruit in Alehandro ‘Nakya’ Fabian Simanjorang’s Raze who stole the spotlight for BOOM Esports. Meticulous entries and timely first kills broke the game wide open for his squad as they tucked Xipto Esports away.

Oasis Gaming, the other Filipino representative for VALORANT in the APAC Predator League Finals 2026 were eliminated in Group Stage after posting just a 1-2 record.

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