And then there were eight.

The four-peat seeking Lyceum of the Philippines and seven other collegiate esports teams are set to fight for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang glory in the  Collegiate Center of Esports (CCE)  Season 4 playoffs in the PGDX 2024 at the SM Convention Center on July 26-28.

With the CCE opening its doors to schools outside the NCAA for the first time, a total of 128 teams participated in the rigorous single-elimination qualifier through the past three weeks to determine the Magic 8 who will fight it out for the crown and the lion’s share of the P100,000 prize pot.

As the dust settled, three-time champion LPE Pirates emerged as one of the top squads in the qualifier along with the new breed of challengers including the top squads from last year’s Philippine Collegiate Championship (PCC).

Viridis Arcus of De La Salle University and Nine Lives x Saints of the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna pose the biggest threats to the Pirates’ reigns this season after the two teams figured in a thrilling grand finals clash in the PCC.

Viridus Arcus actually swept the field on the way to the crown – a testament to how formidable the team is heading into the CCE playoffs.

Certainly no pushovers however, are the other qualifiers in the Teletigers Chaos from University of Santo Tomas, TFX Nireus from Far Eastern University and Pylon Mittsu from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Completing the playoff casts are Bulacan State University’s Gold Gears Uprising and Technological University of the Philippine Manila’s Gearhawks Esports.

The eight remaining teams then play in a single elimination format with best-of-three affairs in the quarterfinals and semifinals and best-of-five showdown in the grand finals to crown the next CCE champion.