SIBOL announces Filipino esports teams and players for SEA games 2019

The official Philippine National Esports Team, SIBOL has finally announced its 27 man esports roster which is set to compete at the upcoming SEA Games 2019.

11 countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam will compete in this event from December 5 to December 11 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, Philippines. The debut esports tournament will feature 6 esports titles including Tekken 7, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, StarCraft II, Hearthstone, DOTA 2, and Arena of Valor.

Here's the official Filipino contingent:

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

• Kenneth Jiane 'Kenji' Villa

• Karl Gabriel 'KarlTzy' Nepomuceno

• Carlito 'Ribo' Ribo

• Jeniel 'Haze' Bata-anon

• Angelo Kyle 'Pheww' Arcangel

• Allan Sancio 'Lusty' Castromayor

• Jason Rafael 'Jay' Torculas

Dota 2 

• Mc Nicholson 'Mc' Villanueva

• John Anthony 'Natsumi' Vargas

• Jun 'Bok' Kanehara

• Marvin Salvador 'Boomy' Rushton

• Bryle Jacob 'CML' Alvizo

• Van Jerico 'Van' Manalaysay

• James Erice 'Erice' Guerra

Arena of Valor

• Kevin Kio 'Gambit' Dizon

• Jeremiah '1717' Camarillo

• Jevan Lorenzo 'Bents' Delos Santos

• Lawrence Anthony 'Rubixx' Gatmaitan

• Miguel Klarenz 'Miggie' Banaag

• Bradie Ryan 'Yats' Velasquez

• Kyle Jepherson 'Vindiicated' Padlan

StarCraft II

• Justin 'NuksPH' Santos

• Caviar 'Enderr' Acampado

Hearthstone

• Dustin 'WaningMoon' Mangulabnan

• Jacinta 'Jia' Dee

Tekken 7

• Andreij Hosea 'Doujin' Albar

• Alexandre Gabrielle 'AK' Laverez

While many of us were wondering about why this list didn’t feature players from the Dota 2 lineup of TNC Predator or Mineski, Paolo “Sandata” Gonzales Bago (Fnatic’s Analyst and Creative Director of Tier One Entertainment) clarified via Facebook post that:

• There was a qualifier in which Filipino teams would compete for an opportunity to represent the country in the SEA Games. However, this took place close to TI. So teams opted to skip the qualifier.
  
  
• The SEA Games clashes with the Qualifiers for the 2nd Major/Minor. The first Minor/Major also clashes with the training period for the SEA Games and hence top players who have commitments with their teams/orgs to compete in said tournaments couldn’t play for SIBOL.

He also added that “We are blessed that a mix of rookies and veterans are here to represent the country. The combo of experience in Bok and Boomy, with Erice and Van our support subs will hopefully help the rising stars Mac (Upper rank 20 Immortal SEA), Natsumi, and CML go for gold.”

The esports tournaments in the 2019 SEA Games kicks off on 5th December 2019 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, Philippines.