The return of esports to the Asian Games to be hosted by Aichi and Nagoya in Japan is a welcome development for the local gaming community in the Philippines.
Philippine Sports Organization (PESO) executive director Marlon Manalo said this after the Olympic Council of Asia announced its decision last week to include 11 game titles in the Asiad calendar.
“It’s a pleasure that there’s esports in the next Asian Games,” said Manalo during the opening games of the Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League Season at the Green Sun Hotel.
In a memo dated Feb. 22, 2025, Asiad officials said after an emergency executive board meeting that they will have 11 titles to played from seven that were introduced in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
This includes the game of MLBB, which Filipino gamers are good at.
“The last time it was held in China, MLBB was not part of the first inclusion of esports in the Asian Games. But right now, we are optimistic and happy that MLBB has been included because we are a powerhouse in MLBB in the Philippines, and globally,” said Marcelo.
Among the titles that have been included with MLBB are the Street Fighter Series, the Tekken Series, the King of Fighters Series, Pokémon Unite, Honor of Kings, League of Legends,PUBG Mobile – Asian Games Version, Identity V: Asian Games Version, Naraka: Bladepoint, Gran Turismo 7, Efootball Series, Puyo Puyo Champions
MLBB is a 5v5 Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game and was one of the first games chosen to be the first medal event of esports at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. It was developed and published by Moonton Games.
“This means that we will have a shot at getting a medal and adding to the honor of winning medals overall for the country if ever we do this right for 2026,” added Marcelo. Peter Atencio
So far, League of Legends and PUBG Mobile were the only titles retained from the last time that it was held in the Asiad.