BY ABBY TORALBA
STUDENT-athletes from several universities and colleges in the country will test their mettle in the first ever Mobile Legends: Bang Bang national champions with the Philippine Collegiate Championships (PCC), powered by Collegiate Center for Esports, that will kick off in August.
The anticipated e-sports event was announced last Monday at Betty’s Events Place in Quezon City with CCE chairman Stanley Lao, president Waiyip Chong, chairman emeritus Peter Cayco, and general manager Jay Recto gracing the press conference.
Also present in the media session were Playdex co-founder Daniel Laborada; Jose Chua Jr., Xiaomi marketing officer; Benjamin Afuang, Quezon City sports head; and Commission on Higher Education sports development head Ana Dulce Yango.
“The goal has always been to find an avenue for these young players to help them with what they want to do and guide them in the right direction through Esports,” Lao said.
“Ang Esports ay sports, hindi lang siya laro. Meron tayong mga professional basketball players, mayroon din tayong mga professional Esports players. Nanalo na nga tayo sa SEA Games eh. Now, nandito ang CCE para sumuporta sa inyong lahat.”
Participating schools nationwide will go to battle in the first stage of the competition. Then, the top four teams from National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will advance in the top 16 for the Regional Qualifiers.
After that, the 16 squads will be divided into four groups and will clash in a round robin format in the Group Stage.
The top two squads from each pool will then proceed to the Last 8, colliding in a single elimination playoff in a best-of-three match up at Amoranto Sports Complex.
