PHL making huge investment on e-sport

LOOKS like the Philippines is now gearing towards a new discipline that could become the future of the country’s sport in international competitions.

The Nationals, the first ever esport franchise model league, had just taken off its first two stages and will head to Cagayan de Oro on Aug. 25 at the Cybersquare Café.

Six teams will compose The Nationals, which was created for egaming aficionados — TNC Pro Team, HappyFeet eSports, BrenPro Inc., Cignal TV, Inc., PLDT/Smart Communications, and STI Education Systems — and they will select players to compete in the Road To The Nationals, a series of e-sports tournament set to happen nationwide.

The event will serve as a prelude to creating a pool of players that could represent the country in future international meets and Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas believes e-sport is the future of Philippine sports.

“They [IOC] had a one day session talking about esport. It was attended by the president of the IOC. The global group heading the international sports is Mr. (Patrick) Baumann, secretary general of the International Basketball Federation. On the POC side, I’m happy because the Philippines has formalized e-sport and an NSA has been created for e-sport. In the Asian Games, it’s going to be a demonstration sport. Hopefully, if we are able to get an NSA, be recognized and represent the Philippines, then we should consider e-sport in the Southeast Asian Games,” said Vargas.

In The Road To The Nationals, participants will play in egames either in PC, mobile or console. Among the games featured are DOTA 2 for PC, Mobile Legends for mobile, and NBA2K19, for console which is still being worked out at this time.

The ESports National Association of the Philippines (ESNAP) had taken steps to be duly recognized by the POC as the official national sport association of e-sports.

“A few years back, we’re not aware that it’s gonna be this big, ” said Ren Vitug, secretary general of ESNAP. “A few years ago, we had tournaments and only a few people were playing at cybercafes for a few thousand pesos as prize money. Now we have participants and audience filling up the big stadiums and with millions at stake.”

After Cagayan de Oro, The Road To The Nationals will go to TNC Bacolod on Sept. 22 and travel to Localhost Café in Iloilo a week later. The last qualifying stage will be held at the UGZ Cafe in Imus, Cavite before the grand finals on Oct. 27-28 at the ESGS, SMX Convention Center, in Pasay. —