ESPN5 launches ‘sports of the future’

MANILA, Philippines — Esports, a fast-rising form of competition using video games, may earn a spot in the Southeast Asian Games calendar when the country hosts the biennial multi-sports meet next year.

“Esports is the sports of the future, and we can’t turn our backs from it anymore. We should consider e-sports in the SEAG,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas during yesterday’s ESPN5’s media launch of “The Nationals” at Sala Bistro in Greenbelt 3 Makati. It was graced by PLDT and Smart big boss Manny V. Pangilinan.

The Nationals, the first ever e-sports franchise model professional league in the country, will open shop next year.

TV5 president and chief executive officer Chot Reyes said there are already six teams in the fold – the TNC Pro Team, HappyFeet eSports, BrenPro Inc., Cignal TV Inc., PLDT/Smart Communications and STI. He added that they are accepting two more franchises.

“The Nationals is the PBA of e-sports and we expect bigger things from the sport,” said Reyes.

Before The Nationals’ much-awaited opening, Reyes said they will hold the “Road to The Nationals,” a series of esports tournament qualifiers nationwide starting on Aug. 4 at TNC Morayta.

He added that it will also own the distinction of being the first local grassroots esports tournament to be featured on three television channels, powered by PLDT-Smart and to be shown on ESPN5, TV5 and Cignal.

Events to be played are DOTA2 for PC, Mobile Legends for mobile, and, a console game featuring NBA2k.

Esports, in fact, will debut as a demonstration sport in the Asian Games set this August in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia with Brent School fielding in a team.

There were also reports that it will be considered for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.

Esports National Association of the Phl or ESNAP has already applied for official accreditation with the POC as the sport’s governing body in the country.