From Lakad Matatag to Taon ng Tagumpay, SIBOL athletes displayed their skills and spirit as they bagged six medals in the games that they joined – a bronze medal for Crossfire, another bronze medal for Valorant; a gold medal for League of Legends: Wild Rift, and a three-peat championship win for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Men’s Team.
This is also the first time that SIBOL won a bronze medal for the PUBG Mobile category. The MLBB Women’s Team – which is comprised of members of Smart Omega Empress – also won the silver medal for their division.
“We congratulate SIBOL for dominating the esports competition at the recent SEA Games. You showcased what hard work, teamwork, and determination can do, proving that you are the true legends of the battlefield,” said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Business – Individual at Smart.
Smart has been a sponsor of the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO), the national sports agency behind esports and SIBOL, since its establishment. The telco has also been a key figure in the development of the esports community in the country – from national athletes, professional and casual gamers, stakeholders, and fans.
“This is evident in our efforts to level up the gaming experiences of Filipinos through our fastest and best mobile network, recognized by Ookla, platforms like GIGA Arena, products and services that cater to the needs of our gamers, and events that continue to delight our esports fans and partners,” Flores added.
The SIBOL roster and coaching staff are composed of 47 men and women who rose from a stringent qualifier conducted by the national team to get the best possible athlete roster.
In 2017, PESO formed a national esports team to represent the country during the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games as a demonstration sport. It was only in 2019 when the official SIBOL team found prominence and wider audience reception when they competed at the 30th SEA Games, in which esports was recognized as a medal sport for the first time.
