Alright, let’s size up Empire Gaming’s shiny new squad—Valliate, f1nna, mykLe, and Adam—and figure out how they might fare in the PUBG Americas Series 5 (PAS5), kicking off with those Open Qualifiers on March 3, 2025. Predicting esports performance is like calling the final circle in a foggy Sanhok match—tricky, but we’ve got some solid intel to work with. Based on their individual skills, past achievements, and how they might mesh as a unit, here’s the breakdown.
This team’s got firepower, brains, and grit in spades. Valliate (Keane Alonso) is a tactical wizard with over $47,000 in career earnings and a monster 2nd-place finish at IEM XII Oakland back in 2017. He’s the kind of player who can keep a squad alive when the odds are bleak—think clutch rotations and sneaky outplays. Then you’ve got f1nna, the wild card with a knack for racking up kills, proven by his standout run in PCS3 NA in 2020. His aggressive edge could turn early-game scraps into decisive wins. mykLe’s a sniper god—3rd at PUBG Nations Cup 2022 and a steady hand in PCS6 Europe—perfect for locking down sightlines and picking off stragglers. And Adam Didiano? The man’s a certified IGL beast with $72,000+ in winnings, a 2nd at FACEIT Global Summit 2019, and a knack for steering squads through chaos like he did at PGC 2022.
On paper, this is a dream team. You’ve got a seasoned leader in Adam calling the shots, Valliate’s cool-headed survival skills, mykLe’s precision at range, and f1nna’s in-your-face fragging power. That’s a recipe for versatility—whether it’s hot-dropping Pochinki or playing the slow-burn edge game, they’ve got the tools to adapt. PAS5’s format, with its Open Qualifiers, Playoff Stages (March 14-16 and March 22-23), and Grand Finals at the end of March, rewards consistency and clutch plays. These guys have both in their DNA.
Now, let’s talk competition. The Americas scene is no joke—teams like Soniqs (PGC 2022 champs), Luminosity, and Shoot To Kill have been killing it in recent PAS events. Soniqs, especially, are a brick wall with their tight coordination and veteran roster. Empire’s squad will need to gel fast to match that level of synergy. Valliate and Adam have big-stage experience, but f1nna and mykLe are wilder cards—can they sync up under Adam’s lead? If they click early, they could steamroll the qualifiers and make a deep run. If not, they might trip up in the Playoffs against squads with more time together.
The $50,000 prize pool and PGC points are juicy, but the real prize is qualifying for the PUBG Global Series (PGS)—top teams from PAS5 get shots at PGS 5 and 6 later in ‘25. Empire’s got a legit chance to snag one of those spots. Valliate’s IEM run and Adam’s FACEIT finish prove they can hang with global talent, and mykLe’s Nations Cup showing adds international cred. f1nna’s the X-factor—if he pops off like he did in PCS3, they’re a nightmare to face.
Realistically, I’d peg them as top-5 contenders in PAS5, with a strong shot at the podium (top 3) if they hit the ground running. Their ceiling’s sky-high—Grand Finals champs isn’t out of the question if Adam’s IGL magic ties it all together. But it’s early days for this roster, and chemistry’s the big unknown. Worst case, they stumble in the Playoffs and settle for a top-8 finish, still banking decent PGC points. Best case? They dominate like Soniqs did in PCS7 and walk away with the crown, $12,000+, and a ticket to PGS.
So, how good will they do? I’m betting they’ll be a force—likely top 5, maybe top 3, with an outside shot at the whole damn thing. This squad’s too stacked to flop, but the Americas scene is a meat grinder. They’ll need to bring their A-game from day one. What do you think—am I overhyping them, or are you feeling the Empire vibe too?
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