CNP Panama 2025 - Panama and a Different Roster
anama marked the final stop of the CNP series, and everything was on the line, the overall series ranking and one last chance to finish the year on top. We flew out on October 2nd and arrived on Thursday to give ourselves time to settle in and adjust to the weather. I was a little skeptical at first, if you remember, Panama is where my phone got stolen, but getting there early helped me reset mentally.
That first night, we went to Eduardo’s, a pizzeria and steakhouse selling full pizzas for $4.95. Definitely sketchy on paper, but the food delivered. On Friday, we spent time at the mall playing games and grabbed Asian food because Dakota was craving it badly. This weekend looked different roster-wise too. We were only six deep, and we added a new face: Diego Gallego, one of Colombia’s top players.
Saturday Prelims: Setting the Tone
Saturday started early for me. I helped our D5 line by pod running, pitting, and even coaching before switching gears for Open. Around 1 p.m., I geared up for our first match against Smoke Patrol 507, the local team. They had serious firepower with Luis Villota and pro player Ceelos Cortes, but the layout was the same one we had just played in Texas, so I knew exactly what needed to happen. We stayed disciplined, controlled the pace, and closed it out 5–1 on mercy rule without letting the momentum slip.
Our second match was against Full Costa, the same team that beat us in the Cali finals. This was supposed to be the revenge game, but paintball doesn’t care about narratives. They checked us early, and we had to grind for a 2–2 tie. That result meant we still needed another win to secure our spot. After the match, we ordered food and tried to reset, but something was off. I started feeling really sick, fever, dizziness, the whole deal. Whether it was food poisoning or just exhaustion, I spent the rest of the day resting and saving whatever energy I had left for Sunday.
Sunday: Fighting for the Bye
Sunday came fast. With only four teams in the division, semis and finals would be played the same day, and one team would earn a bye straight to finals. With a six-player roster, that bye mattered a lot.
Our third match was against Piratas Panama, another strong local squad featuring Eddie, Ramon, and Sergio. It was a tight match, but we held onto a 2–1 lead and closed it out. That win guaranteed us the bye, no matter what happened next. Our final prelim match was a rematch against Smoke Patrol. This time, they made solid adjustments and caught us slipping. We dropped it 1–2 and couldn’t claw our way back.
Even with that loss, we refocused. We ate, talked through plays, and watched the semifinals. I honestly thought Piratas had it and even stepped away to my room for a bit. When I came back, Smoke had pulled it off, which meant we’d face the same team for the third time that weekend.
Finals: Facing Smoke Patrol for the Third Time
The finals were intense. The score stayed tight, and we almost sealed it before overtime. I made a costly mistake, I forgot about their second snake player. He got the drop on me and managed to lock down my teammate before the buzzer could be hit. Overtime.
Even though I had been playing snake all weekend, I switched it up and stayed home off the break to shoot their snake. The buzzer sounded, I shot the wide body and watched him walk off. At the same moment, Dakota eliminated another player. We went five-on-three immediately. I told everyone to slow it down, moved into the snake, and we closed the point to win the finals.
That win didn’t just take the tournament, it secured the CNP series championship.
On the podium, they announced me as the Open MVP of the event. Standing there, celebrating with this group, meant everything. Winning alongside people I admire, trust, and fight for is what makes moments like this unforgettable.
Panama was the final stop, but the perfect ending.
