SIBOL will not be advancing to the grand finals of the IESF World Esports Championships Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia qualifiers after failing to secure the spot in Group B, Monday.
The Philippine ML:BB team finished second in its group with a 1-1 slate.
SIBOL took down Cambodia in three games to open the qualifiers but lost to an unheralded Myanmar side via sweep which took them out of contention for the top seed.
Myanmar posted a perfect 2-0 standing in Group B after sweeping both Cambodia and the Philippines. Cambodia, on the other hand, finished winless.
This, however, does not mean that the Philippines is already out of the IESF World Esports Championships.
“So far nasa early stages pa lang tayo ng IESF Championships. Yung next phase ng tournament sa Bali, Indonesia na gaganapin. Mas mahaba lang yung dadaanan ng Sibol ML team kasi yung top teams sa group stage mapupunta na sa phase 2 agad,” SIBOL general manager Leo “Jab” Escutin told Tiebreaker Times.
“Although mas mahirap, confident pa din kami sa Sibol ML team na madami sila natutunan sa group stage na pwede nila maprepare para sa darating na laban sa Bali,” he added.
The team composed of Blacklist International and two amateur standouts will still fly to Bali, Indonesia where they will take the longer route via play-ins.