NU Bulldogs Rule Southeast Asia in First-Ever Galaxy Gaming Academy x MLBB Campus Series

NU Bulldogs Rule Southeast Asia in First-Ever Galaxy Gaming Academy x MLBB Campus Series

JAKARTA — The Philippines’ NU Bulldogs etched their name in the history books after conquering the inaugural Galaxy Gaming Academy x Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Campus Series 2025.

Elite campus teams from across Southeast Asia gathered in the tournament wrapped by a high-stakes grand final held at Taman Anggrek Mall.

The championship victory earned the Bulldogs the lion’s share of the US$40,000 prize pool, taking home US$18,000, while fellow Filipinos FAITH NOVUS Bravehearts finished second for US$8,000. Indonesia’s VL Team rounded out the podium with US$5,000.

Beyond imagination

The three-day tournament, held from June 20 to 22, marked the culmination of a months-long campaign that saw over 1,000 student teams from Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore battle through domestic qualifiers. The top two squads per country advanced to the cross-national finals, where they competed using the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the event’s official tournament phone.

“Taking home the championship title is beyond what we imagined when we first registered,” said NU Bulldogs coach Patrick Balanquit. “Playing against the best campus teams in the region has made us better and proves that student gamers deserve serious recognition.”

The Galaxy Gaming Academy x MLBB Campus Series is a first-of-its-kind inter-country collegiate tournament created by Samsung and MOONTON Games to spotlight emerging talents and pave the way for amateur teams to enter the pro scene.

“We are proud to support these young athletes as they pursue their esports dreams,” said Carl Nordenberg, VP of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung SEA.

“This collaboration aligns with our commitment to building a strong foundation for aspiring gamers,” added Ray Ng, MOONTON Games’ Head of Ecosystem. “We thank Samsung and the GGA platform for encouraging esports development and student participation.”

More than a competition

The tournament featured a three-stage format, including open qualifiers (March 15–April 6), national competitions (April–May), and the offline grand finals in Jakarta. Indonesia held additional offline events to determine their national representatives.

MLBB players used the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to experience a smooth, responsive experience crucial for high-level competition.

Beyond the competition, the event was a celebration of Southeast Asia’s rising campus esports scene. Representatives from top organizations such as EVOS, ONIC, Dewa United, and Team Liquid ID were in attendance, offering a glimpse of possible career pathways for student players.