BY WAYLON GALVEZ
Sibol national team made history in esports competition when Filipino gamers scored a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Indonesia in the gold medal match in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games late Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.
Down 2-1 in the best-of-five championship showdown, the team of Kenneth Villa, Karl Nepomuceno, Jeniel Bata-anon, Carlito Ribo, Angelo Arcangel, Jason Torculas and Allan Castromayor won the next two matches to stun world champion Indonesia.
The come-from-behind sparked a wild celebration from the team’s supporters.
“We’re all very happy of course that the Philippines made history, and we’re very proud of Sibol,” said Philippine Southeast Asian Games Esports Union co-chairman Jane Jimenez Basas.
“It was an intense game, the Sibol team was trailing against Indonesia, which has won in the world championship. But our players, they didn’t give up… lumaban sila talaga. Very happy for the athletes.”
For their win, the Sibol athletes stand to receive cash reward of P2 million from telecommunications backer Smart Communications via the “Get Gold!” project for the SEA Games.
Esports action is ongoing at press time with Sibol aiming for their second gold medal in Dota 2 event with the national team facing Thailand in the best-of-five title series Monday night.
