By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
IN LINE with its push to do its share in the development of the growing Esports scene in the country, Globe Telecom stepped things up by assembling a professional Esports team.
Partnering with local Esports pioneer Mineski, Globe made what it hails as “the next big move in the competitive Esports arena,” unveiling a professional team called “Liyab.”
Team Liyab is composed of carefully selected gamers from world-renowned Esports titles League of Legends, Hearthstone and Arena of Valor.
Incidentally, Arena of Valor will be one of the featured titles in Esports, which will make its debut in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the country later this year.
Globe and Mineski said Liyab will be competing in various tournaments both here and abroad.
“Liyab will be the symbol of the country’s burning passion and pride in global Esports events,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO, during Liyab’s unveiling on Feb. 7 at the Globe Tower at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Adding, “Liyab, which translates to ‘Blaze,’ represents the team’s intense passion and focus in the realm of Esports.”
The creation of the professional team continues the direction that Globe started with the launch of the Globe Games and Esports Program in April last year that has seen the group organize and host international Esports tournaments such as the Globe Philippine Pro Gaming League, Globe Conquerors Manila, and Valor Cup.
Mr. Cu said Liyab will complement greatly what they want to accomplish as far as Esports in the country is concerned, in particular enhancing gaming responsibility among Esports stakeholders.
“We are now positioning gaming and Esports like a real sport for Filipino gamers to follow. By focusing on the total development of the Esports athlete such as physical wellness, nutrition, discipline and cognitive development, this provides gamers an avenue to progress to a professional level,” said Mr. Cu, whose group also underscored that with the growth of Esports, it, too, is challenged to step up its game in providing the necessary infrastructure and ideal connection.
For Mineski, the creation of a pro team like Liyab was timely considering how Esports has evolved in recent years.
“With the proper management system, we strongly believe we can overcome the hurdles and set an example for many to follow suit as well so to make each country competitive with each game and also to promote a stronger region overall,” said Mineski CEO and President Ronald Robins also at the launch.
He went on to say that the partnership with Globe for Liyab was an “ideal one.”
“The value of this partnership is more than monetary value. And that’s the most important. What Esports is today, we usually come up with decisions where we see a lot of opportunities. But the more we work out is what value is being added in the partnership. And in this case, our weaknesses are the strength of Globe, creating a strong partnership. We usually say one plus one equals two. But in this case it’s one plus one equals three. And we really work together,” Mr. Robins said.
Team Liyab is composed of the country’s most promising gamers known for their skills, demeanor, discipline, and competitiveness.
Among the members’ accomplishments representing Southeast Asia together with the Malaysian and Thai teams in the 2018 League of Legends Rift Rivals against Japan and Oceania regions as well as They also represented the Philippines in the Globe Conquerors Manila, the most prestigious League of Legends esports event in Southeast Asia for 2018.

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