THE Philippines is sending the best and the brightest in esports in the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 12-23.

In fact, the 54-strong Filipino delegation will be bannered by no less than M3 world champion Blacklist International, which will defend the title in the centerpiece Mobile Legends: Bang Bang event.

Philippine ESports Organization (PESO) secretary-general Joebert Yu said the Filipinos are confident they can duplicate, if not surpass, their three-gold medal haul when esports was first introduced during the 2019 SEA Games in Manila.

“We’re very confident that our athletes will do their best to bring home a medal. Hopefully, we’ll again come out on top in esports for the second straight SEA Games, just like in Manila” said Yu during the weekly “Sports On Air” program via Zoom.

Yu said the Filipinos, also known as Team Sibol, are looking forward for another opportunity to represent the country in international competition.

He said this year’s Hanoi-bound delegation is twice as big as the one which competed in Manila.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Philippine Olympic Committee at Philippine Sports Commission, pati na sa mga private sponsors namin, sa kanilang patuloy na support sa esports,” said Yu.

Leading the Filipinos’ campaign in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang are the seven Blacklist International stars, led by Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna, Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario and Salic Alauya “Hadji” Imam.

Also in the 54-man Team Sibol Philippines delegation are:

PUBG Mobile

–KHI Esports – 5 athletes
— Zap Battlegroundz – 5 athletes

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Wild Rift Women

– GrindSky Esports Eris – 5 athletes

Wild Rift Men

– Looking For Adoption (LFA) – 6 athletes

CrossFire

– Pacific Macta – 5 athletes

League of Legends

– West Point Esports – 5 athletes

FIFA Online 4

– Jorrel Aristorenas
– Rad Novales
– Aljhon Argete Cañas

Free Fire

– Rise National Esports – 4 athletes
– God Ascends – 4 athletes

Arena of Valor

– Imperial Esports – 5 athletes

Asked about the chances of the Filipinos winning more than three golds in the 10-event esports competitions, Yu remains optimistic.

“I want to base my answers according to data, so if I’m going to answer it, we can guarantee that we will bring home more medals than we did when we hosted it in Manila in 2019,” explained Yu.

“But this is our first time na bibisita sa kanila, so hindi natin masiguro kung ilan dahil wala namang data available na pwedeng pag-basehan.”

Yu, however, admitted that only two of the six events contested during the 2019 edition are included in the 10 events to be held in Hanoi.

“From what I remember, ang natira lang na dalawang events ay yung MLBB, na kung saan nga nag-gold tayo, at Arena of Valor,” recalled Yu.

“Yung Starcraft II at DOTA 2, na nakakuha din tayo ng dalawa pa nating gold medals, hindi na kasama sa Vietnam ngayon. Pati na yun Heartstone at Tekken 7, nawala din. But that’s the prerogative of Vietnam as the host.”

Yu also said the Filipinos are not worried about the pressure of competing abroad.

“Karamihan sa mga players natin ay mga professional esports players. They can handle the pressure. Excited nga sila sa pagkakataon na makapag-represent ng bansa natin.Alam nila yung responsibilidad na kaakibat ng pagbitbit ng bandila natin sa ibang bansa.”

“When I talk to them, lagi nilang sinasabing malaking karangalan na i-represent nila ang Pilipinas sa esports, kumbaga hindi commercial name ang dala nila kundi yung bansa mismo.”

Esports was held as a medal event for the first time during the 2019 SEA Games held last Dec. 5-10 at the Fil Oil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Philippines emerged as the overall champion with three golds, one silver and one bronze.

Thailand finished runner-up with two golds and two silvers, while Malaysia wound nmup third with one gold and one bronze.

Indonesia had two silvers, Singapore had one silver and one bronze and 2022 host Vietnam had three bronzes.