NAOS Esports is now into the semifinals of the VCT Ascension Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand.
The All-Pinoy crew, composed of Riley “Witz” Go, John Timothy “JA” Arone, Noel “NDG” De Guia, Federico “PapiChulo” Evangelista, Jerome “Mojer” Literal and Carl Alexander “SenyorCarl” Carandang, topped Alpha by finishing the group stage with three wins and a single loss. By earning the top seed in their group, NAOS gained automatic seeding in the last four and is now waiting for the winner of the knockout match between SCARZ of Japan and Fancy United Esports from Vietnam.
“We definitely had some issues going to the tournament. But as it went on, we managed to bring back our kind of play and style back in the VCL Philippines. We’re trying to mix in new stuff into our play style with our old confidence. It is a mix of us trying to be more confident on this level rather than us playing into the game of our opponents,” Jean Lowell “Ell” Marcelo, NAOS team analyst, said during the VCT Ascension Pacific Pre-Playoffs presser last Wednesday.
In the other bracket, Bleed eSports of Malaysia and Singapore is the winner of Group Omega and is also through to the semis. It will battle either Indonesia’s Boom eSports or Bonkers, representing Oceania, for a ticket in the finals.
Ten teams, divided into two groups, battled in a single round robin format during the early rounds of the VCT Ascension Pacific. The winners of the group stages gained byes in the semis. The second and third place teams, on the other hand, advanced to the quarterfinals.
“I think it comes down mostly to our preparation and the players’ confidence levels during games. At first it was rough but the longer we played and learned the format, we felt better but it was really challenging being in Group Alpha. Being the top seed is really a great advantage and we are grateful for the Philippine region,” Marcelo added.
Organized by Riot Games, VCT Ascension Pacific offers a total cash prize of $100,000 but more importantly, the winner will qualify in the 2024 and 2025 Pacific League and get a chance to compete in global events such as the Masters and Champions Tournaments against the best Valorant teams all over the world.
Let’s go NAOS!
Last weekend, The Designated Kit Man had the chance to go back to Tacloban once more. The last time I was in the city was in 2019 and before that, in 2013, a day after Typhoon Yolanda devastated Tacloban. Typhoon Haiyan, the international name of Yolanda, also affected most of Leyte, Samar and other provinces in Eastern Visayas.
We were among the first group of journalists from Manila to reach Tacloban after a massive storm surge hit the city. The impact of the natural calamity was evident right away as we walked from the airport toward the city. There were so many casualties, so many houses destroyed and the city was literally in chaos with survivors scrounging for water and food. There was no electricity, signal and other basic services in Tacloban then.
Hope, too, was scarce.
Looking back then, it was very difficult to imagine how the city would recover from such a catastrophe.
Ten years later, the city is once more brimming with activity with new establishments dotting the cityscape, the roads are very busy and the Leyte Tide Embankment Project, or popularly called the Great wall of Leyte, is now in place, providing protection and a breathtaking view of the sea that once was the source of grief and sadness to the home of people who regard themselves as the happiest in the world.
Among the many changes in Tacloban include the first-ever PFF Regional Training Center, including a world class football pitch, in Barangay Palanog.
Nonong Araneta, President of the Philippine Football Federation, along with FIFA officials Lavin Vignesh, Lorenzo Fofi, Niko Nhouvannasak, Eastern Visayas Regional Football Association President and Philippine Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami and other officials from the different football associations in the country were present during the inauguration of the facility.
The training center was the realization of a project promised by FIFA during the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. It took some time due to several reasons including problems with the original area where the pitch was supposed to be put up.
Araneta says the project was the result of a pitch made by the PFF on a TV news report then featuring three young boys playing football amid the tragedy in the city.
When asked why they are still playing football despite what happened to their city, the boys answered that they have to practice for an upcoming tournament. Araneta shared that because of football, the three kids remained hopeful and optimistic that things will eventually get better.
“Nilagyan namin ng subtitle ‘yung report, tapos pinakita namin kay Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president then during a congress in Malaysia. Lahat sila natuwa dahil sa report. Kaya nag-pledge sila ng $1 million para mapagawa ang training center dito sa Tacloban,” Araneta shared.
The project took at least 10 years to be completed owing to many reasons including the unavailability of the original site.
“This is the testament of overcoming adversity after what happened here. It is really nice to see kids playing again here. It is also significant for the PFF because this is the first standard pitch here in Eastern Visayas where the neighboring provinces can also use. This will definitely boost the grassroots programs of the federation in the region,” Araneta said.
Aside from the regional training facility from FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation also sent help to Tacloban by building an AFC village for those who lost their homes.
“During tragedies and during adversities, we gather together as one football team. It shows that football cares,” Araneta added.
For his part, Palami said he hopes that all games that will be played in the new facility will be dedicated to all those who died during the calamity. He is also hoping that the new football pitch will be the site of football tournaments, both local and international, in the future.
“We are very happy that almost 10 years after Typhoon Yolanda, we have this football pitch which is a testament not just of resiliency but how the Waraynons triumphed from adversity,” Palami said.
Palami also assured that the football pitch is open for everyone especially from teams from Leyte and Samar.
By the way, Palami donated the three-hectare lot where the new football pitch was built.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
