By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Philippine E-Sports Organization (PESO), through its deputy executive director Marlon Marcelo, revealed its plans to finally bring back offline tournaments in a bubble setup during the Games and Amusement Board’s third Philippine Professional Sports Summit on Wedneday, Sept 29.
Although there is no timetable yet, Marcelo said that PESO is coordinating with GAB on the possibility of a return to offline tournaments for some of the top esports games in the country.
“Nakikipag coordinate tayo sa Games and Amusement Board, number one gusto natin na magkaroon ng bubble on-site tournaments. Iba pa rin kasi yung kasiyahan at excitement na dinadala ng isang on-site event, kahit anong event pa iyan mapa-console, mobile or PC, so isa yan sa mga pinaplano ng mga members ng Philippine Esports Organization,” shared Marcelo.
“With all the necessary paperworks and clearance sa GAB, DOH, and IATF para matry natin makapagstart ng bubble. The sooner that we can actually master it the better because of course, magandang paraan yan para mabalik yung sigla ng Esports scene sa bansa,” he added
The esports in the industry also took a hit due to the current COVID-19 pandemic which forced the usual offline tournaments with live audiences to stop. The esports professional scene showed resilience as it continued most of its major events through online platforms.
However, challenges like Internet connectivity and maintaining a boot camp hampered esports professional teams from time to time, things that can easily be settled in an offline event.
“Dahil naging online ang pagsali sa tournaments, kailangan ng magandang Internet connection at iyon ang isang problema na kinakaharap ng ating mga atleta pero nagagawan naman ng paraan,” said Marcelo.
“Dumadami rin yung tinatawag na training boot camps kung saan yung players imbis na magkakahiwalay sila ay magrerent nalang ng isang facility and dun na lang maglalaro sabay sabay para mas malaking chance nila magcommunicate at makapaglaro ng maayos,” he furthered.
Despite the challenges, PESO marveled at the growth of the esports scene in the country especially in the middle of the pandemic. Marcelo cited the success of Filipino teams in international competitions and the rising popularity of local leagues like the Mobile Legends Professional League who has been getting a thousand of views during its broadcast.
“Hindi naman tumigil na magpursige at magcompete ang mga professional players natin, in fact, isang team, Bren Esports ng Mobile Legends ang Grand Champion ng M2 o yung Mobile Legends World Championship,” said Marcelo
“We see a lot of surge in terms of viewership katulad nung sa Mobile Legends Professional League, hundreds and thousands of viewers every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ‘yun” he marveled.
Marcelo and PESO are taking that as a good indication of how the esports industry could grow more if offline tournament events push through when the COVID-19 restrictions in the country eases out.
“In any kind of sport ‘di ba? We wanted to see the crowd, we wanted to see the passion and energy of everyone lalo na sa Esports scene because as you may know esports medyo it leans to the side of the youth,” said Marcelo.