Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — The top four finishers in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 8 have been invited by Sibol — the national esports team — to the qualifiers for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Reigning MPL-Philippines and M3 World champion Blacklist International, Onic PH, Smart Omega Esports, and Nexplay EVOS will play in Phase 2 of the tournament. They will vie for the spot to represent the Philippines as it defends the gold medal it won three years ago when the country hosted the biennial sports meet.
The qualifiers is comprised of two phases will begin on January 21.
READ: Blacklist’s OhMyV33nus, Wise to skip MPL PH Season 9
Phase 1 is an open qualifiers to teams outside the professional league, while Phase 2 is the playoffs where the top eight squads will clash with the champion to earn the right to wear the national colors.
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Unlike in the previous SEA Games when a 15-year-old Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno carried Sibol to the gold medal, Vietnam’s organizers have set an age limit of 18 by the time the competition comes in May.
Blacklist’s Kiel “Oheb” Soriano and Edward “Edward” Dapadap and Onic PH’s Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol won’t be seeing action because of the age restriction.
Smart Omega players Duane “Kelra” Pillas and Kiel VJ “Kielvkj” Hernandez will also have to sit out the qualifiers because of their age.
Here are the lineups of the four pro teams:
Blacklist International
Jonmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna
Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario
Kyle Dominic “Dominic.” B. Soto
Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales
Salic “Hadji” Imam
Dexter Louise “DEX STAR” C. Alaba
Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani
Krisstoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza (Coach)
Onic PH
Allen Jedric “Baloyskie” Baloy
Gerald “Dlarskie” Trinchera
Paul Ian “Beemo” Sergio
Mark Christian “Markyyyyy” Capacio
Jaylord “Hatred” Gonzales
Ralph Benedict “Flick” Hamoy
Nowee “Ryota” Cabailo
Denver “Coach Yeb” Miranda
Patrick James “E2max” Caidic
Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog
Renz Errol Salonga “Renzio” Cadua
Dean Christian “Raizen” Sumagui
Jhonville Borres “OUTPLAYED” Villar
Cesar Jefferson “AMETHYST” Santos
Billy Jazha “Z4pnu” Alfonso
Nexplay EVOS
John Paul “H2wo “Salonga
Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcarse
Jeniel “YellyHaze” Bata-anon
Jhonwin “Hesa” Vergara
Mariusz “Donut” Tan
Kenneth “CADENZA” Castro
Raineil Jhim “MP the King” Lagronio
John Michael “Zico” Dizon
Sibol will also hold qualifiers for the League of Legends: Wild Rift and CrossFire.
Smart Omega Esports
