AIMING to hone collegiate esports players in a competitive league, the NCAA launches the inaugural Esports Kick-off tomorrow, Saturday, with all 10-member schools expected to showcase their school pride in the digital world.
Before it formally closes its centennial season, the NCAA will embark on a special event for their collegiate gamers that will surely be a big boost for the esports community in the country.
The NCAA Esports Kick-off was launched last Wednesday at the Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge at the Marco Polo Ortigas in Pasig with the NCAA management committee leading the contract signing with the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE) founder Stanley Lao, WP Gaming Chief Executive Officer Benson Te, and Philippine Collegiate Championship (PCC) program manager Eric Valmonte.
“As we launch this year’s NCAA Esports Tournament, we’re not just starting a competition—we’re igniting a movement that recognizes the talent, drive, and potential of college gamers across the nation through esports,” event chairman Melchor Divina of Mapua University said. “In this era, the esports scene is more than just a game—it’s an avenue for skill development, leadership, collaboration, and career pathways in the continuous growth of the digital space.”
Featuring Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the competition, Valmonte announced that the 10 teams will be divided into two groups and will have two phases. First is the round robin phase where the teams from each pool collide against each other for a top 3 slot in their group. Then, the top three teams will proceed to the Playoffs to be held at the Philippine Game Dev Expo from July 25 to 27 to compete in a modified gauntlet double elimination format until a champion is crowned.
The eventual champions of the NCAA Esports Kick-off tournament, according to Valmonte, will win a trip to the Thailand Game Show set for Oct. 16-19 in Bangkok, Thailand thanks to the efforts of PCC and CCE.
“We’ll be sending them to Thailand Game Show to attend, courtesy of PCC as well as CCE. So, iyan, may pinaglalaban. Champion lang. So, galingan ninyo.
Champion or bust,” Valmonte said.
Commission on Higher Education representative Ana Yango conveyed the body’s support for the event as it will broaden the esports industry.
“We hope that through this esports competition that CCE is organizing, we hope that it will attract more and it will educate more students, student athletes from the different colleges to join and be part of a growing sector of esports,” she said. “So, good luck to CCE. We hope that this year it will be bigger and bigger and bigger. So, we look forward to a bigger competition for CCE and NCAA.”
In the 101st NCAA season, Valmonte said that the league’s esports meet will feature two events: MLBB and Valorant in December.
