eSports may be the newest medal sport in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games calendar, but it hopes to contribute as many as five gold medals in the biennial event scheduled in Manila on Nov. 30-Dec. 11.
Gerald Sobrepena, Marketing and Player Development Manager of Team Liyab Esports, said the country has a good chance in eSports which debut as regular sports in the biennial meet in November.
“Of the six gold medals at stake in the coming SEA Games, I think we can win five of them. I’m being realistic, kaya natin lima,” said Sobrepena during the 36th “Usapang Sports” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports at the National Press Club in Intramuros yesterday.
“Napakalaki talaga ng chances natin na manalo sa eSports dahil magagaling ang mga players natin,” added Sobrepena in the weekly public service program sponsored y th Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Cub, PAGCOR, Community Basketball Association and Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.
Four of the country’s top gamers from Team Liyab — Kevin Kio “Gambit” Dizon, Jeremiah “1717” Camarillo, Jervan Lorenzo “Bents” Delos Santos and Miguel Klarenz “Miggie” Banaag – also expressed confidence about their chances of bringing honor to the country.
All four Team Liyab members were chosen to form part of the national training pool, Sibol, for the coming regional competition where they will compete in the Arena of Valor (AoV) event of the eSports competitions.
Veteran Caviar “Enderr” Acampado was also selected as one of the two possible medal hopefuls in StarCraft ll.
Aside from the six Team Liyab gamers, several other players were also drafted to form the training pool that will compete in th biennial games, which is recognizing eSports games such as Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Tekken 7 and Hearthstone, along with AoV and StarCraft ll, as medal sports for the first time in its history.
At least two players will represent the Philippines in the individual games Tekken 7, Hearthstone and StarCraft ll, while seven players will compose the team for Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Arena of Valor.