Pilipinas lang nga talaga ang malakas.
The Philippines continues to make its mark in the esports scene as SIBOL wins the overall championship in this year’s IESF World Esports Championship. It’s no easy feat, as the Filipinos had to outperform 110 other countries that also participated in the tournament.
SIBOL banked on its teams in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), which won gold, and Tekken 7, which won silver, to secure the overall victory.
Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel of SIBOL’s MLBB squad showed his patriotism and dedicated the win to the country. To win gold, they defeated last year’s champs, Indonesia, 3-1.
“Another gold, para sa’yo ‘to, PILIPINAS,” Pheww wrote on Facebook.
But the veteran MLBB player and two-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist probably couldn’t contain the desire to win more.
“Hanggang sa mga susunod pang tagumpay!” He added.
Given how SIBOL, comprised of players from the AP Bren franchise, has fared in international competition, perhaps it’s not far-fetched to aim for more triumphs. Pheww and his peers also struck gold in the SEA Games in Cambodia earlier this year.
And when his teammate, Michael Angelo “KyleTzy” Sayson, is trash-talking the competition, it only seems like their confidence is at an all-time high.
“Sino ba nagsabing end of era na?” KyleTzy playfully asked after they sealed the win over the Indonesians.
Philippine Esports Organization (PESO), the country’s official federation for esports, says SIBOL’s wins in the IESF world tilt only shows the Filipinos’ overflowing potential in the industry.
“This victory is a reminder that with passion and commitment, anything is possible in the world of esports,” PESO executive director Marlon Marcelo said in a statement.
"Becoming the overall champion at the IESF Esports World Championship is a significant testament to how Filipinos can achieve at the highest levels in the global stage of esports," added PESO president Brian Lim.
To more future breakthroughs, Team SIBOL!