SENTOSA, Singapore – SIBOL’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team capped off its campaign with an emphatic 2–0 sweep of host nation Singapore, closing out the Asian Games qualifiers on Sunday at the Resorts World Sentosa Convention Center here.
The victory saw the Filipinos finish the group stage with a 6–1 record, securing their place among Southeast Asia’s representatives in the main stage of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, while also marking the return of star gold laner Duane Pillas to the lineup.
Following the win, head coach Allec “SN4P” Alvarado reflected on the team’s demanding run through a constantly shifting tournament meta, crediting both the players and coaching staff for helping SIBOL secure its Asian Games qualification.
“Overall performance, maganda naman. Very tiring pero worth it naman. Grabe yung changes sa meta. Kulang yung resources pero we achieved Asian Games qualfiication pa rin. I’m proud of the boys. Thank you din sa buong coaching staff sa naging help nyo,” he said.
Pillas, who replaced Dave Viana Jr. in the roster, immediately made his presence felt in Game 1. He secured two kills on Bruno during the fourth-minute Turtle fight, helping SIBOL surge to a 10–1 kill lead.
The Filipinos never let Singapore recover, wrapping up the opening game before the nine-minute mark behind Game MVP Sanford Vinuya, who finished with seven kills and six assists while only conceding one death.
Singapore kept Game 2 close early before Karl Nepomuceno (Akai) delivered a crucial double kill during the seventh-minute Turtle fight, giving SIBOL a slim 2,000-gold advantage.
SIBOL then produced its biggest momentum swing in a ninth-minute re-engagement, where Nepomuceno combined with Vinuya (Arlott) to secure three unanswered kills, take the Lord objective, and build an 8,000-gold lead heading into the base turret siege.
Nepomuceno finished as MVP in the clincher with 13 kills and eight assists against just one death.
With the victory, SIBOL closed out the qualifiers on a high note, carrying momentum and renewed confidence into the Asian Games main stage later this year in Nagoya.
