A national grassroots program in esports is now under way.
Philippine Esports Organization president Joebert Yu said this after Team Sibol finished third in the 31st Southeast Asian Games rankings with two golds and two silvers.
“Locally, we now have a national national program. We will try to get more players to join and form another team,” said Yu, adding they are sending athletes to the Asian Games once it pushes through.
Last April, PESO began focusing its efforts on developing esports talents with their National Grassroots Program.
On its first season, NGP will be organizing amateur tournaments and setting up webinars. It has held two Dota2 tournaments so far to seek out prospective talents, who can join international meets.
And PESO hopes that DOTA 2 will be among the titles that will added in the Asiad.
But while awaiting word on the Asiad, PESO is assembling groups of players who can join the 14th World Esports Championships slated from Dec. 1 to 12 in Bali, Indonesia, under the auspices of the International Esports Federation.
“We are preparing to join in Bali. And there are three titles that will be played,” said Yu.
The world’s best esports athletes competing across multiple games will seek medals in Mobile Legends: Tekken 7, and PUBG Mobile: Counterstrike Globe Offensive.
The development and formation of the national teams in the world championships is now in the hands of PESO executive director Marlon “Lon” Marcelo, according to Yu, who added that they now have Dota2 tournaments that were initially planned with the Asian Games.