(CNN Philippines, March 26) — All eyes will be on the Philippines as it defends its title in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippines 🇵🇭 will have the chance to defend its title in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games happening in Vietnam.
📲 https://t.co/vaYdmntUGu pic.twitter.com/VsKQnRePS7
— CNN Philippines Sports Desk (@sportsdeskph) March 26, 2021
The popular online game in the country is among eight esports events included in this year’s biennial sports meet, according to the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sport Association.
“Ideally we would like to fill in all the titles but we still have to talk about the possibility because this is the first time our federation will join the SEA games on a non-hosting capacity. Before when we hosted it, we had the advantage. But now we have to look at all kinds of factors like expense of flying,” Philippine Esports Organization Deputy Secretary-General Joebert Yu told CNN Philippines.
The Philippines won the gold medal in Mobile Legends in the 2019 SEA Games.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Pauline Verzosa contributed to this report.
Bren Esports, a professional Filipino team, captured the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship last January.
Aside from Mobile Legends, included in the list are Arena of Valor, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, League of Legends, FIFA Online 4, CrossFire, and Raid.
The Philippines staged the inaugural esports tournament in the 2019 SEA Games. It won a total of three golds, one silver, and one bronze.
The 2021 SEA Games will take place in Vietnam on November 21 to December 2.
