MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is optimistic Sibol will be a prolific group that will fly the national colors high in the coming Asian Games.
In the prognoses of not a few, the Philippine national esports team could be a medal machine in the Aichi-Nagoya Games where the Filipino e-gamers will compete in six of 11 events slated Sept. 23 to Oct. 2.
“Mag-de-deliver yan,” said Tolentino of the 30-strong Sibol crew, vying for glory in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, Identity V, Naraka: Bladepoint, Pokemon Unite and Puyo Puyo Champions.
“We have a strong chance. Out of the six game titles, we hope to get good results especially in MLBB,” said esports national federation executive director Marlon Marcelo.
Tolentino has reason to be bullish.
Sibol, the national esports team, bagged three golds, one silver and one bronze in its maiden campaign in the 2019 Manila SEA Games. It added two golds and two silvers in Hanoi in 2021.
In Cambodia in 2023, Sibol showed its depth, landing on the podium in all five titles it entered – six medals in all, highlighted by a dominant 3-0 sweep of Malaysia for a three-peat in MLBB men’s play and another gold in League of Legends: Wild Rift. That run was capped by an overall championship in the IESF World Esports Championships in Iasi, Romania.
All told, Sib ol has amassed eight golds, five silvers and four bronzes in SEA Games competition, establishing itself as the team to beat in the region.
What makes the coming Asiad extra special? It is the second time that esports is in the calendar as a regular medal event, and Sibol looks poised for a heavy harvest, coming in force after qualifying in six events.
Leading the charge is the fancied MLBB squad of Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, Sanford Marin Vinuya, Alston Mayor Pabico, Jay Pee Dela Cruz, Grant Duane “Kelra” Pillas and Dave Melendres Viana Jr., which went 6-1 in the Singapore qualifiers, sweeping host Singapore, Myanmar and Indonesia along the way.
The Honor of Kings team of Dragon Hart Dajao, Golden Hart Dajao, Charles Roman Cruz Esguerra, Chammy Paul Nazarrea, Justine Ritchie Tan and Jhon Mike Tungol also impressed, finishing second in Group A in Malaysia after sweeps of Pakistan, Mongolia and Uzbekistan.
Also in the fold are Identity V’s Johannes Glenn Juico, Joachim Santino Timtiman, Xyrel Terrence Julian, Joshua Francis Gumaro, Sander Joseph Gallo, Japhet Jay Onquit and Psalm David Cortez; Naraka: Bladepoint’s Richard Espejo, Raphaelron Joaquin Paclibar, Kenneth Marucot Perez and Ouhrich Von Castillo Teñoso.