The Philippine esports national team doesn’t care where you come from, all that matters is you can play and you can compete to the highest level.
SIBOL, the Philippine esports national team, prides itself for staying open for talent everywhere in their quest to organize the best gamers in the country.
Just recently wrapping up the qualifiers for the IESF World Championships, SIBOL said that they relished being able to gain interest from players across the Philippines, and from various backgrounds in each of the titles.
Dubbed as one of the most stacked and competitive combines organized by SIBOL, General Manager Jab Escutin lauded the combine for doing its job in helping the team, and the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) keep their options many, especially in a sport as volatile as esports.
“We’re very happy that the combine is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. We have a lot of professional teams that made it inside and they are aspiring athletes that want to represent the Philippines and they’re the best at what they do, and we also have an amateur team that made it inside. So one of the things that we wanted to do for the combine is we nurture din the next generation,” Escutin told esports reporters during a press conference at Green Sun Makati last Sunday.
“So, one of the purposes of the combine is to make sure that the amateur teams get into environments where professionals are also included. Imagine, kung amateur team ka, you’re basically thinking to yourself, I’m nobody, and you get to spend time with your idols, and actually spend time with them for a couple of days, you get to play with them, you get to see how they work, how they play… It sends a really good message to the amateur teams that they have something to look forward to.”
[RELATED: ‘Most stacked roster’: SIBOL upbeat on MLBB team’s chances in IESF World Championships]
But more than the dream of making it into the pros, SIBOL and PESO are encouraging those outside of the pro leagues to set their eyes on the national team.
As evidenced by the makeup of the national qualifiers, the national team hasn’t been stringent in the background of any teams or players that want to have a try at a roster spot. Instead, they are only interested in finding out who are the best of the best at the moment.
A far-cry from traditional sports where athletes need to set the foundations early and get into a pipeline that will likely get them into a national team program, Sibol operates in a vastly different system.
For PESO Deputy Executive Director Lon Marcelo, players will just need to prove that they have the skills fit for the national team.
“At some point, [at] the national tryouts, we don’t discriminate — [it doesn’t matter] if you’re a pro, you’re an amateur, if you’re just starting out in MLBB [or any title], it’s a blank space.” he said.
“You put your name and then you compete to the highest level.”
Of note, SIBOL’s roster for MLBB at the IESF last year was made up of amateur players from RRQ Kaito, with only then-Falcons AP.Bren member Kyle “KyleTzy” Sayson as the only pro in the team.
The team finished a respectable second place in the tournament, which showed the mettle of the team despite their lack of professional background.
According to Marcelo, the result proved SIBOL’s system that anyone can try a hand at the national team. However, the esports executive also underscored the importance of professionalism.
“We proved that our system works. Kung sino yung national team, at that time, is really the pinnacle of what you would want to have as a team that would join [competitions].” said Marcelo.
“Yes, [anyone can try out]. Of course, number one, you have to comply. That’s one of the things also that the national team will teach you. The humility to actually be on time, you have to read the rules… Because when you represent the Philippines, we expect nothing but your skill, the best, but also yung responsibility mo.” he added.
While a good chunk of the current IESF rosters across the various titles are currently professional, Sibol says that they will give continuous chances to anyone to compete in the national team.
“The only guaranteed event that they will compete in right now is the IESF. The question is would we hold another qualifier for the SEA Games, the Asian Games, and whatever. So, our goal as SIBOL is to provide opportunities to anyone who wants to represent the Philippines. That’s why we hold the qualifiers,” said Escutin.