With the Philippines known for its dominance in men’s Mobile Legends, the SIBOL women’s team are eager to prove they can do it too at the SEA Games 2025.
Success in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has long been associated with the Philippines, with scores of M-series titles, gold medals, and other hardware to prove it.
But for women esports athletes, it hasn’t been as apparent – especially with fewer opportunities to show their wares compared to their male counterparts.
With the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand once again holding a women’s tournament, the women of SIBOL see this opportunity as their time to shine.
Bannered by EXP laner Gwyneth Diagon, Sheen Perez, Mery Christine Vivero, Clarisse Cordova, Rica Amores, and Kaye Alpuerto, the SIBOL women's Mobile Legends team will be playing with a collective chip on their shoulder.
With some in the community casting doubts on how women play the game, SIBOL hope to show that they can roll with the best of them, men or women, or whatever else.
“Kahit na paiba-iba yung meta po ngayon is, kaya din siya gawin ng mga babae. Diba kasi, nauuso yung double fighter, tas iniisip ng iba na yung mga babae, mga marksman, yung mga malalayo yung range,” Diagon told One Sports.
“Gusto namin patunayan na kaya din namin magka-double fighter, mga ganong meta po,” she added.
[RELATED: SIBOL's Sanford out for redemption in SEA Games MLBB gold medal bid]
Hometown pride
The national team will be leaning heavily on chemistry, as they share many things in common – including their hometown.
All hailing from Cebu, the SIBOL team felt the support of the community, even before they suit up for the national team here at the SEA Games. That and the continued backing from the government have kept things going for Diagon and company.
“Very supportive po actually yung mga Cebuano sa amin, lalo na pag nalalaman nila na same language kami. And sa government din po namin, noong last SEA Games, may pinrovide po silang incentive sa amin po. Nakatulong din po siya talaga sa amin,” she said.
At the end of the day, the girls are raring for the chance to redeem themselves after falling short of the gold medal in 2023.
Now with a fresh start, they’re eager to show that the women are just as golden as the men.
“Sobrang gigil [kami]. Kasi noong last SEA Games, kami yung naunang mag-match point. Tapos parang kinapos lang po talaga. So, iniisip po namin na gustong-gusto namin na kunin na po siya this time,” said Diagon.
The SIBOL women MLBB team open their campaign on Sunday, December 14, against Laos before they face off against other Pool A opponents Vietnam and host country Thailand.
Esports matches happen at the Chulalongkorn University, Sala Phra Kieo.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.