The Collegiate Center for Esports has partnered with international gaming and lifestyle organization Galaxy Racer for its first season set to kick off in June.
Ten established schools and universities, which participated in its exhibitions games last year, are set to see action in the inaugural tournament.
These are San Beda, Arellano, Letran, College of St. Benilde, Mapua, Jose Rizal University, San Sebastian, Perpetual Help, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum, which ruled the inaugural CCE Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 5-on-5 Varsity Cup (MVC).
"CCE has opened an opportunity that everybody has been waiting for. Everyone is looking forward to it, especially our collegiate athletes in a league among established collegiate institutions. This is very exciting not just for us but for the entire Esports community. It's an easy opener for us to partner with CCE," said Galaxy Racer country manager Marcia Guillermo.
CCE Commissioner Waiyip Chong expects a competitive field this time around as the schools tapped student-athletes for the Mobile Legends tournament.
"We expect a more exciting and fiery competition paired with the continuous excellence, sportsmanship, values and camaraderie among all our players as the foundations of our organization," said Chong.
"Expect CCE to catapult and soar into new heights starting in our first official season. And with Galaxy Racer behind, we see a meteoric rise and improvement all for the advancement of the Esports cause in the country. It's a massive partnership that would only lead to stronger ties and nobler cause for Philippine Esports, especially in the collegiate ranks," added CCE President Stanley Lao.
CCE is also seen to boost the esports scene in the country and hopefully produce new breed of esports athletes from the collegiate ranks that could also represent the country in the international scene.
"We have experienced and saw (the Esports rise) during the pandemic and even in the Southeast Asian Games. We envision the students, not just athletes but regular students, to be involved in such opportunities," said Peter Cayco, athletic director of Arellano.
Cayco was joined by Dax Castellano (College of St. Benilde), Estefiano Boquiron Jr. (Emilio Aguinaldo College), Paul Supan (Jose Rizal University), Fr. Vic Calvo (Colegio de San Juan de Letran), Hercules Callanta (Lyceum of the Philippines University), Melchor Divina (Mapua University), Atty. Jonas Cabochan (San Beda University), Fr. Glynn Ortega (San Sebastian College – Recoletos), and Frank Gusi (University of Perpetual Help System DALTA as well as head organizer Ssein Meneses and project manager Kirs Montales.
Also present in the event is Commission of Higher Education sports project head and coach Ana Dulce Yango.