By REYNALD MAGALLON
Few weeks ago, Sibol national team overall head coach Ralph Andrei “Leathergoods” Llabres made a bold prediction that the country’s esports contingent will deliver medals in 80 to 90 percent of all the events in the Southeast Asian Games.
The country’s esports not only achieved it but even surpassed its showing the last time as Sibol finished in the podium in all of the esports titles where Sibol has a representative.
On Monday, May 15, Abdul “Monboy” Barode brought home the bronze medal in the Player’s Unknown Battleground (PUBG) Mobile Individual event, completing the organization’s impressive feat.
In all, Sibol has completed a six-medal haul in all of the five esports titles the team had participated in, highlighted by the gold medals in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang men’s competition and the League of Legend: Wild Rift mixed team event.
Sibol also added a silver in the MLBB women’s event and two more bronzes in Valorant and Crossfire, for a total of three.
“We are very happy with the results, we know that we could’ve brought home more prestigious medals for some of the games so we will keep moving the Filipino Esports Athlete forward. For now all we can say is, ‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’,” said Sibol general manager Jab Escutin.
It was the biggest medal haul Sibol has achieved after taking home five in 2019 when esports was first introduced in the regional meet and four medals in the last edition.
Its MLBB men’s team even completed an unprecedented three-peat in the regional games after dominating the competition this year, capped by a 3-0 sweep of Malaysia.
The splendid showing in the SEA Games is seen as a step in the right direction especially for Sibol’s busy year where it is set to participate in the World Esports Championships, the Asian Games, and the Asian Indoor Games in the next few months.
