Northern Mindanao rules Esports pilot in Palarong Pambansa

CHAMPION. Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro (center) awards the winners of the Esports event of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa at the Teatro Marikina on Sunday (July 30, 2023). Mobile Legends Bang Bang or MLBB, a five versus-five mobile multiplayer battle arena published by Moonton, was the demo game in this year’s scholastic sporting meet. (Photo courtesy of Marikina LGU via PNA)

MANILA – Northern Mindanao (Region 10) on Sunday became the champion in Esports which made its debut as a demonstration sport in the Palarong Pambansa 2023 in Marikina City.

Mobile Legends Bang Bang or MLBB, a five versus-five mobile multiplayer battle arena published by Moonton, was the demo game in this year’s national scholastic sporting meet.

“Esports, a brand-new type of athletic competition, pits competitors against one another in competitive games that need teamwork, wits, and agility. It has shown to be a way to advance personally, encouraging self-control, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills,” Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said in a statement Monday.

The Northern Mindanao players received a trophy and brand new phones for besting five other participating regions in the demo sport held at the Teatro Marikina from July 29 to 30.

Western Visayas or Region 6 team was the first runner-up while the National Capital Region (NCR) was named second runner-up.

The other teams that competed in the demo sport were Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9),Central Visayas (Region 7), and Davao Region (Region 11).

Teodoro said the Department of Education (DepEd) and members of the Palaro Board would review the demo sport and decide whether to include it in the official games for the next edition of the Palaro.

The mayor said Esports has become a worldwide phenomenon in recent years, engrossing millions of people, crossing borders and bringing people from various walks of life together.

“The conduct of Esports as a demonstration sport in this year’s edition of the Palaro is a way of embracing the new wave of digital sports,” he said.

“This is the gateway to the future of sports and gaming, and more broadly, connectivity and technology,” he added.

“The Philippines has the chance to use the enormous appeal and popularity of Esports to engage and motivate the upcoming generation of athletes,” he said.

The Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) assisted in the conduct of the demo sport.

“We are ecstatic that Esports is being included in the Palarong Pambansa, this will open new opportunities for our young gamers to showcase their talents and abilities,” PESO executive director Marlon Marcelo said.