Meet SIBOL, the Philippine National Esports Team!
Image banner via PSEU
The official list of athletes representing the Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ esports event has finally been revealed by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Esports Union (PSEU) earlier today.
From a 77-member training pool that is comprised of directly invited players as well as winners from several online qualifers, Sibol, the country’s national esports team, has been trimmed down to 27 names. Seven members were selected for team-based events such as Dota 2, Arena of Valor, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, while two athletes were chosen for StarCraft II, Hearthstone, and Tekken 7.
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
The selection process for the Sibol representatives was done by the managers and coaches of each respective event. According to previous announcements, the selection will be based on each player’s mastery of their game as well as their compatibility with the rest of the team, among others
In August, a Combine event was held at the Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati City to serve as the athlete’s strongest bid in trying to qualify for the national team. 67 players from the training pool attended, with the absentees being Dota 2’s directly invited players, majority of whom were fresh from their The International 2019 stint.
In a Facebook post, Paolo “SNDATA” Bago, Sibol’s Dota 2 coach, clarified the selection process, and why the country’s most notable names in the country’s professional Dota 2 scene are missing. He cited how the national pool was selected from the players who attended the Combine event, and how the schedule of the 30th SEA Games’ esports event, which will be on December 5-10, 2019, will be in conflict with the second wave of Dota Pro Circuit qualifiers, which will be held on December 1-6, 2019.
The esports events of the 30th SEA Games will be held at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
