SIBOL will kick off its 20th Asian Games Aichi campaign this week, with its Naraka: Bladepoint squad and Puyo Puyo Champions representative becoming the first to see action in the esports competitions at Aichi Sky Expo.
Richard Espejo, Von Teñoso, Kenneth Perez, and Joaquin Paclibar will form the Philippines’ Naraka: Bladepoint team, with Paclibar also competing in the solo category on Sept. 23 as they look to set the tone for SIBOL’s campaign in Japan.
A day later, Karl Gonzalvo will begin his Puyo Puyo Champions campaign on Sept. 24 for the country’s national esports team, which is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Naraka: Bladepoint, a melee-focused action game featuring swordplay, ranged weapons, character abilities, and grappling-hook movement, and Puyo Puyo Champions, a fast-paced puzzle game built around matching four or more Puyos of the same color, are among the six titles the Philippines will contest at Aichi-Nagoya.
SIBOL, also supported by Smart, Cignal, TV5, and Arena Social, will also compete in Pokémon Unite, Honor of Kings, Identity V, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, one of the country’s strongest gold-medal prospects, later this week.
Pooled in Group B with Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei, the Naraka: Bladepoint squad will navigate unfamiliar territory in the game’s Martial Artist Mode but hopes its preparation will be enough to secure a top-two finish and advance to the semifinals.
(C) PESO
“We expect good execution based on our preparation. We’re also excited because Naraka can be known globally, and we already know how these players play,” said team captain Paclibar, who will serve as SIBOL’s reserve in the team event.
“We always meet these people in NetEase online tournaments, but the difference this time is that it’s not Battle Royale, so it’s more about pure fighting skills. We’re trusting our preparation mentally, emotionally, and physically, and then we just need to execute,” he added.
Gonzalvo, meanwhile, faces a formidable Group A field alongside Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong, with the hosts emerging as a particularly strong contender given Puyo Puyo’s roots in the country and its long history under Japanese developer and publisher SEGA.
The 29-year-old content creator-turned-national athlete brings nearly two decades of experience to the challenge and has steadily built his knowledge of the game.
“There is pressure both from representing the country and from the game itself, since Puyo Puyo requires quick decision-making and precision,” said Gonzalvo, who has played the game since he was 12.
“Luckily, I get to represent the Philippines while playing one of my childhood video games — it’s a dream come true to carry the flag,” he added.
While Naraka: Bladepoint and Puyo Puyo Champions have smaller communities in the Philippines compared with more established esports titles, the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) saw the potential in its representatives and remains confident in their ability to compete on the Asiad stage.
Their campaign also provides an opportunity to raise the profile of both games and help grow their communities in the country.
“Selecting a national team for titles that are relatively new to Philippine gamers requires careful evaluation. Fortunately, accessible tournament data and detailed player profiles have allowed us to study these games thoroughly. Based on our findings, we are confident our athletes will be highly competitive at the Asian Games,” said SIBOL general manager Jab Escutin.
“Fielding a national team creates valuable momentum for local communities and game publishers to host more events in the Philippines. We hope a strong showing from our players will spark new opportunities for competitive gamers nationwide.”
