By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Sibol national team has set a lofty goal for its campaign in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games as it eyes the top overall ranking of the esports events in Cambodia in May
The Philippine Esports Organization is optimistic and confident that the country will top its performance in the last edition of the biennial meet last year in Hanoi, Vietnam where the esports national team copped two golds and two silvers for a third overall finish.
“Rest assured that our federation are really trying to get those medals especially right now we have the chance we can be the overall head ranking of this,” said PeSO Secretary General Joebert Yu during the Sibol 2023 campaign kick-off press conference at the Cignal Experience Center in Mandaluyong on Thursday, April 20.
“Since Cambodia this is the first time that they will host this, the overall ranking of the top SEA countries are up for grabs and we hope we can have the nation get the overall (ranking),” added Yu.
This year, Sibol is set to compete in five esports titles with a total of seven teams scheduled to fly to Phnom Penh for the regional tiff. Sibol is fielding representatives in the men’s and women’s categories of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Crossfire, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Player’s Unknown Battlegrounds Mobile Team and Solo categories and Valorant.
Sibol overall head coach Ralph Andrei “Leathergoods” Llabres is confident with the preparations of the teams which was formed through a combine and after the national team qualifiers, even assuring that Sibol will bring home at least two gold medals.
“I’m expecting better results this year. Last year, we hit our 70 percent na makakakuha ng medal. I think this year I’ll be bold around 90 percent na makakakuha tayo ng medals specifically we are already expecting two golds from Wild Rift and Mobile Legends,” said Leathergoods who was also joined by Sibol general manager Jab Escutin and PeSO executive director Marlon Marcelo in the press conference.
