PHNOM PENH—The Philippine Sibol team dominated from start to finish, sustaining the momentum they got from taking Game 1 to score a 3-0 sweep of Malaysia in their best-of-five finals series in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games esports tournament at the Naba Theatre of the Naga World 2 Integrated Resort here on Sunday.
Angelo Kyle “Pheww” Arcangel celebrated his second gold medal for Sibol, as the team completed a 19-11, 16-7, 19-16 verdict over the Malaysians.
The 24-year-old Arcangel, playing an important role of a Faramis, a healer, who kept most of his teammates from getting easily killed in the game, last saw action for the team when they won their first gold back in the 2019 edition of the games in the Philippines.
“This is exciting. I’m the only one who has won two gold medals. And I thank my teammates for it,” said Arcangel, who drew support from teammates Rowgien Stimpson Unigo, David Canon, Michael Angelo Sayson, Nowee Macasa, and Marco Stephen Requitiano display the Philippine flag.
It was the Philippines’ second esports gold in these games, following its title conquest in the Mobile Legends: Bang-Bang and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Filipino esports bets also had a silver in the women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and bronze medals in the Valorant PC mixed team event and Crossfire.
A double kill from Canon’s Arlott character saw Sibol taking a 6-0 lead in the early period of their 26-minutelong Game 1.
In Game 2, Sibol fought its way to a 4-all lead, before Canon’s axe-wielding Lapu Lapu went on a triple, as the Filipinos took charge with an 11-4 edge.
“The boys just brought their A game to the match,” said coach Francis Glindro of the team’s fighting spirit.
Sibol finished the Malaysians in Game 3 by taking control of the base in just 11 minutes.
Glindro noted that that the Malaysians overlooked their need for necromances, or healers, known as a Faramis.
They even left alone Arcangel, the team’s carry, for the entire game. A carry is responsible for obtaining gold and the needed supplies during a game.
“We realized na hindi sila masyadong nag-carry, or nag Faramis. And that was our priority in the games,” said Glindro.
Sibol reached the finals after coming from behind in beating Myanmar, 2-1, in their semifinal clash on Saturday.
Malaysia advanced to the gold-medal round with their 2-1 triumph over Cambodia.
The team is composed of the core of Bren Esports Team, which won the titles in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the biennial meet.