Sibol secures Asian Games berths in Identity V, Naraka qualifiers
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s national esports team, Sibol, continued its buildup to the 2026 Asian Games with a strong opening salvo, booking slots in both Identity V and Naraka: Bladepoint during the regional esports qualifiers held in Singapore.
The week-long event, staged at Resorts World Sentosa from May 30 to June 5, brought together over 20 Asian nations competing for limited berths in the Aichi-Nagoya Games later this year.
The Philippines first broke through in Identity V, where a 16-team field was split into three round-robin groups. Bannered by Johannes Glenn Jucio, Joachim Santino Timtiman, Xyrel Terrence Julian, Joshua Francis Gumaro, Sander Joseph Gallo, Japhet Jay Onquit and Psalm David Cortez, Sibol finished third in Group A with a 2–2 record, enough to secure qualification after victories over Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.
The result placed the Philippines among the qualified nations, joining regional contenders such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, and fellow Southeast Asian teams Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Sibol carried that momentum into the Naraka: Bladepoint qualifiers, where its roster of Richard Espejo, Ouchric Von Teñoso, Kenneth Perez and Raphaelron Joaquin Paclibar delivered another decisive showing. The Filipinos placed second in Group B with a 3-1 record, earning direct qualification to the Asian Games as one of the top teams in the group stage.
With two titles secured, the Philippines has already locked in multiple entries in the esports program, where medals will once again be awarded at the continental level.
For Sibol overall head coach Ralph Andrei “Leathergoods” Llabares, the results reflect both preparation and belief within the national program.
“This was a great run for our team, and honestly, we exceeded many of our own expectations coming into the tournament. Watching our young athletes compete with passion, discipline, and belief reminds us why we do this. Their dedication to the craft earned us a place in the Asian Games, and that is something they should be proud of. This qualification belongs not only to the team, but to everyone who believed in Philippine esports,” Llabares told Philstar.com.
He also pointed to the Identity V squad’s role in setting the tone for the campaign.
“Identity V may have been the first game to step onto the stage, but they have shown the entire delegation what is possible. Qualification is not the finish line — it is proof that we belong. We hope this achievement becomes a spark for the rest of our delegation,” added Llabares.
With early success secured, Sibol now turns its attention to the remaining esports qualifiers across Southeast Asia, where the Philippines is aiming to complete its roster of entries for the Asian Games.
Already ongoing are the Honor of Kings qualifiers in Malaysia, where Sibil has opened its campaign with a win against Pakistan. The highly anticipated Mobile Legends: Bang Bang qualifiers will take place in Singapore beginning June 18, while the PUBG Mobile qualifiers will kick off the following day in Vietnam.
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