SIBOL, the bemedaled Philippine esports squad, has kickstarted its own preparation for the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam this May with registration and tryout for national team selection of different esports titles.
Powered by SMART Communications, Inc., Sibol on Wednesday launched its nationwide search for players in Arena of Valor, Free Fire, League of Legends and FIFA Online after beginning the national tournament for other events last week.
One of those is the gold medal-favorite Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), which the country dominated in 2019 when esports was launched here as an official SEA Games medal event.
Sibol is already in the second phase of the MLBB national team selection process with eight squads left led by world champion Blacklist International, Onic Philippines and SMART Omega Esports,
Apart from MLBB, Sibol also ruled Dota 2 and StarCraft II in the last SEA Games edition on its way to the overall championship with three gold, one silver and one bronze medals.
Dota 2 and StarCraft II, however, are not included this time in Hanoi games that will feature a total of eight esports titles.
Still, hopes are high for an overall title repeat bid of Sibol under the supervision of Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) as the country’s national esports association. — John Bryan Ulanday
