From collegiate esports to pro level: A gamer ponders his future

De La Salle University’s Aaron Sablay during the UAAP Season 87 VALORANT tournament. UAAP Media/File

MANILA — For aspiring esports players, reaching the professional scene can seem like a distant goal. 

But as collegiate esports continues to grow in the Philippines, universities are providing players with another platform to compete, develop and potentially catch the attention of professional organizations. 

For Aaron Sablay, that pathway is not merely theoretical. 

The De La Salle University Valorant captain has already experienced both sides of competitive esports. 

Before becoming a collegiate player, Sablay competed in professional tournaments as a teenager. He eventually stepped away from the professional scene to prioritize his studies, only to return to competitive play through La Salle’s collegiate program.

Now, as he approaches the end of his master’s degree, Sablay finds himself considering the professional scene once again.

Sablay’s journey illustrates how collegiate esports can serve as a bridge between student competition and professional play, but also shows why that transition is far from automatic.

The La Salle standout’s entry into competitive esports began during the pandemic, when what had previously been a hobby became an opportunity to test himself against stronger competition. 

A friend playing for a semi-professional team invited him to compete in a tournament. At the time, Sablay was around 17 years old.

“I think I did pretty well,” he recalled. “And then I realized na I could actually like, compete and makipagsabayan sa mga pro players at that time,” he said.

That realization pushed him toward the professional scene.

He played for teams like Affinity Esports and DR Esports, even reaching semifinal finishes in the Philippine Pro Gaming League (PPGL) and VCT-related tournaments while still in senior high school.

But the experience also showed him what it actually took to become a professional esports player.

Professional competition required more than simply playing well during matches. Sablay had to maintain his individual form through ranked games, improve his mechanics through aim trainers, participate in team scrims, and study professional matches.

“It’s really like a very physically, mentally, and time-demanding profession,” he said.

At the same time, Sablay was preparing for college.

“I really want to do well in college and I also have academic goals,” he added.

By early 2021, he decided to step away from professional esports and focus on his education. 

“Sabi ko na I’m completely giving up pro for good and I’m going to fully focus on [my] college studies,” Sabay recalled.

For a player who had already begun building a professional career, it could have been the end of his competitive journey.

Instead, it became a detour. 

The Collegiate BridgeAaron Sablay with La Salle’s triumphant team during the UAAP Season 87 VALORANT tournament. UAAP Media/FileSablay returned to competitive Valorant after Xavier “xavi8k” Juan, a former La Salle Green Aces and Global Esports captain and VCT Pacific champion, invited him to play under the DLSU banner.

The opportunity offered something that the professional scene could not–the ability to continue competing while keeping his education as a priority.

“I found that being in a collegiate team, I think is the perfect middle ground between having the chance to compete, [and] still having the opportunity to play the game in a competitive manner, but at the same time hindi siya as demanding as being in a pro team,” Sablay said.

For Sablay, collegiate esports provided the chance to develop as a competitor without having to commit the same amount of time required of a professional player.

La Salle schedules practices around its players’ academic responsibilities, allowing students to attend classes and complete requirements before joining team practices.

“First and foremost, ine-emphasize sa’min na academics first,” Sablay said.

That balance is central to why collegiate esports can function as a potential pathway to professional competition. Players are able to compete in organized tournaments, develop their skills and gain experience while still having the opportunity to pursue a degree.

But the pathway becomes meaningful only when collegiate competition provides players with opportunities to be seen.

Getting noticedDe La Salle University’s Aaron Sablay during the UAAP Season 87 VALORANT tournament. UAAP Media/FileFor Sablay, the UAAP’s biggest contribution to an aspiring professional is exposure.

“UAAP in and of itself, malaki ‘yung exposure,” he said. So if you do well, there’s a lot of good players right now sa UAAP na given the right exposure, maso-scout sila ng mga local pro teams,” he added.

Every tournament becomes another opportunity for players to demonstrate their ability against organized competition.

That exposure also matters from the perspective of professional organizations.

Jab Escutin, the Southeast Asia General Manager for Team Falcons, said collegiate leagues provide organizations with another pool of players to monitor.

“It’s a pathway, definitely,” he said.

Escutin compared collegiate esports with traditional sports, where collegiate leagues have long provided professional teams with opportunities to identify emerging talent.

For professional organizations, the need to scout does not stop.

Esports rosters constantly change, meaning teams must continually search for players who can fill new needs.

“One great player today might not be the best player next month,” he said. “Therefore, you have to continually and consistently look at who’s up-and-coming.”

That makes collegiate tournaments more than competitions for championships. They can also become showcases for players who want to move beyond the university level.

From tournament performance to a tryoutDe La Salle University’s Aaron Sablay during the UAAP Season 87 VALORANT tournament. UAAP Media/File

Being noticed, however, is only the first step.

Escutin said aspiring professionals need tournament performances that demonstrate their abilities.

“Ang number one advice ko when it comes to ‘How do I become a professional athlete, esports athlete?’ is just join tournaments, that’s the only way,” he said. “There’s no other way.”

For professional organizations, tournament experience gives scouts something tangible to evaluate.

“No decent esports team will hire you if you do not have tournament performance,” Escutin added.

For a collegiate player, that makes every tournament another opportunity to build a competitive resume. 

Strong individual statistics or mechanical skill, however, do not automatically result in a professional contract. Even after a player catches an organization’s attention, the process of joining can still include tryouts, interviews and background checks.

More than mechanicsDe La Salle University’s Aaron Sablay during the UAAP Season 87 VALORANT tournament. UAAP Media/FileEscutin said teams also consider a player’s communication, personality, chemistry and attitude before making a decision.

“You have to have good in-game skills, meaning you know what you’re doing in-game,” he said. “Pero how you get into professional esports teams is your attitude towards being a professional.”

For Sablay, the development of those qualities is part of what makes collegiate competition valuable.

His experience with La Salle has allowed him to compete against increasingly stronger collegiate teams while developing skills that could eventually be useful in the professional scene.

He considers leadership and experience among the biggest things he has gained from his collegiate career.

While mechanical ability remains important, Sablay believes many players already possess strong individual skills. 

“I think there’s still a gap in terms of like the best pro teams out there,” Sablay said.

Professional teams have more experience and resources, including coaches, assistant coaches and analysts, while professional players are exposed to a higher level of competition.

Despite this, he believes the collegiate player base continues to improve each year, making the UAAP an increasingly important platform for players hoping to be discovered.

“I think it’s 100% a good roadmap from being a UAAP player into ‘yung tier 2 pro leagues, and eventually if you do make it sa tier 1,” he added.

For Sablay, however, the pathway does not guarantee that he will eventually return to professional esports.

As he nears the completion of his master’s degree, he remains undecided between pursuing professional competition and entering the workforce.

“I did consider it before, but now I’m not really sure,” he said.

For aspiring players, Sablay’s advice remains simple.

“Just keep grinding,” he said.

And for those who want to turn collegiate competition into a professional career, the first step may simply be to keep competing.

“Keep on playing in the tournaments. Don’t stop. If that’s what you want to do, keep on competing, ’cause that’s the only way you can get in and you can get noticed,” Escutin said.