DPS Dominican Republic 2025 - An unmatched energy
I landed in the Dominican Republic on August 29, flying into Santo Domingo. As soon as I walked out of the airport, Manu was already there waiting, and he handed me the biggest slice of pizza I’ve ever seen in my life. We headed straight to the Casco Antiguo of Santo Domingo, walking through the historic streets, exploring, talking, and taking it all in.
When it got late, we stopped at La Barra Payán for an original Dominican sandwich. Absolutely worth it. I also tried Chinola Juice for the first time, and I swear, it is the best drink I’ve ever had. I drank three. No regrets.
After that, we drove to Santiago de los Caballeros, where the tournament would take place, and rested up for the weekend.
Saturday - Are you full?
I woke up at 5am and watched the sunrise. By 7:30 I was dressed and ready. I was guesting with DR Outlaws, a local Dominican team that gave me the honor of joining them for the event. Huge shoutout to Osoria for the invite.
Our first match of the day was against Black Ops, we won 2–1 in a tight, back-and-forth game. Then we faced Menteanah, the reigning champions. We had the lead, lost momentum, tried to come back, and fell short 2–3.
Still, the environment at the event was unreal. The energy was unmatched, every team was hyped, every point felt loud. That’s also when I met Sandra, an iconic figure in Dominican paintball. They call her “The Mother of Paintball.”
After the games, we headed back to the Airbnb, ordered ice cream, and later I went out to eat with some of the other teams. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten more food in a single day.
Sunday - Music and vibes
We came into Sunday with two tough prelim matches ahead of us. First up was Caribbean OPS, and after a long battle, we tied 3–3. Then our last prelim was against Narcos (Puerto Rico), without a doubt the strongest squad in the event. We lost 1–2, but even with a messy prelims run, we still advanced to semifinals.
And of course… semis put us right back against Menteanah. We played hard but took the loss 2–4, finishing the event in 3rd place.
But honestly? The placement wasn’t even the highlight. The crowd had drums, music, rhythms, pure Dominican energy. After our games, we danced, hung out, and watched the finals with the best vibe you could imagine. Nothing compares.
Once finals ended, we headed back to Santo Domingo because my flight was early. I left with a medal in my bag and a full heart. I’m incredibly grateful to:
DR Outlaws for trusting me
Osoria for the opportunity
My teammates who fought every point
The girls from 10 Seconds for making me feel so welcome
Sandra for the inspiration she brings to the sport
Manu for showing me the city and feeding me like royalty
This isn’t the end of my story in the Dominican Republic.
It’s only the beginning.
