E-Gilas featuring Laus Playbook Esports core takes on tougher field in FIBA tilt

Bannered by Laus Playbook Esports stars anew, E-Gilas Pilipinas will look to regain the title in the FIBA Esports Open III but a bigger field awaits them in the online tournament slated this weekend, April 16-18.
The national team for esports basketball will once again parade the LPE core of Rial "Rial" Polog Jr., Angelico "Shintarou" Cruzin, Clark "Clark" Banzon, Custer "Aguila" Galas, Philippe "Izzo" Herrero and Arnie "ElChapo" Sison under coach Nite Alparas and team manager Richard Brojan.
Ian Santiago has been added to the E-Gilas squad that will face familiar foe Indonesia along with the four new teams Vietnam, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mongolia in the third edition of the tourney that uses the NBA 2K game.
The Philippines ruled the Southeast Asia conference of the inaugural FIBA Esports Open in June last year by sweeping its lone opponent Indonesia, 5-0.
However, E-Gilas relinquished the throne to Australia after losing 2-0 in the best-of-three finals of the second event last November.
The PH team will start its redemption bid against Vietnam and Maldives in the group stage on Friday while Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Mongolia will battle it out in the other group.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the best-of-three semifinals on Saturday and the winners will dispute the crown in a best-of-three finals on Sunday.
"Esports has proven to be another area where our Filipino athletes can be world-class. Our E-Gilas team will once again represent the country and we'll do everything we can to support them," said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, who also lauded the growth of the FIBA Esports Open from 17 countries in the first edition and 38 in the second one to 60 national federations this time.
"Our team is eager to prove that we're the best in the region and I'm sure they'll make us proud," he added.