A Chat With The Nationals Champions

It was a roller coaster year for the players from PLDT-Smart Omega’s Mobile Legends team.

- Gabriel Pe

Just last January they were all playing in teams under different names, now all of them are under one roof and he team has just won the first conference of The National’s Mobile Legends tournament, taking home PHP 500,000 of prize money in the process.

The Nationals is the country’s first franchise-based eSports tournament. Announced just last year and launched in March, it was an opportunity to legitimize eSports in the country. Companies such as PLDT-Smart, and sister company Cignal took this chance to sponsor teams to play under their banner for the tournament. The Nationals features three different gaming titles: DoTA 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Tekken 7.

When The Nationals was announced, PLDT-Smart had to field a talented squad to represent the country’s largest telco brand. The brand had previously sponsored international eSports tournaments in the country such ESL One Manila and The Manila Major. The company partnered with the Sterling Global Dragons to field teams that will compete in the Nationals under the banner of PLDT-Smart Omega.

SGD/ PLDT-Smart Omega’s Mobile Legends roster is composed of Adrian Jay “Toshinu” Bacallo, Kenneth Jiane “Kenji” Villa. Jahaziel Jay “Crypzu” Villanueva, Earvin John “Heath” Esperanza, and Kyle Gabriel “Karltzy” Nepomuceno. The team is coached by Steve Dale “Daledalus” Vitug.