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.