BALANGA City, Bataan: The first major esports event in this province known as “Roman
Reigns Bataan Legends” Mobile Legends Tournament took off on its semi-final and final stages
at the Vista Mall here Saturday.
Four groups of five members each from the previous 32 teams during the first week of June
are vying for the championship round with the first placer getting cash of P20,000, 2 nd place –
P15,000, 3 rd – P10,000 and 4 th – P5,000.
The tournament is a collaboration between Lawyer Tonyboy Roman, provincial Board member
in Bataan’s first district; the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) and Collegiate Center for
Esports.
“Basically, binibigyan natin ng attention ang gaming, ang mga gamers dito, ang esports dahil it
is a thriving industry na talagang we have to live with it na parang AI kailangan matuto tayong
mabuhay kasama ang esports na madalas sa tingin ay sagabal o distraction sa pag_aaral pero
gayunpaman hindi natin maiwasan,” Roman said.
“Basta every day in moderation, basta natatapos ang homework, basta may ambisyon ang mga
bata mismong mga gamers na nakausap ko, nainterview ko makikita niyo diyan hinihikayat na
makapagtapos sa pag-aaral,” the Sangguniang Panlalawigan member continued.
“Pero alam ninyo pwede din pagkunan ng pangkabuhayan not necessarily as a professional
gamer kundi may mga industriya dito. In fact, BPSU may mga courses patungkol sa gaming so it
is like a coming out event para sa BPSU dahilan kung bakit sila nakipag-collaborate din sa akin at
‘yong sa ibang sponsors para mabigyan atensiyon ang esport industry,” Roman added.
“Bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga kabataan na maglaro, magpakitang- gilas at the same time
mai-showcase ang mga courses at programs ng BPSU that are esports – related, so iyon ang
trust ng event na ito,” he furthered.
Roman said they started with 32 teams Bataan – wide. The preliminary and quarter finals on
mobile legends were done online. Reaching the semi-finals and finals were four teams – one
from BPSU and one each from the towns of Limay, Pilar and Abucay.
One group was named Diyata Pares Overcook while the other teams are called Browtatatat,
BCD Esports and Broken ASF.
“It is the 1st event in Bataan. We have not done this scale in the past dahil tama lang eh
napakalaking industriya nito. Dapat pagtuunan ng pansin kasi maraming trabaho, new
economies. Sa Manila may gaming programs, may mga gaming professors, maniwala kayo at sa
hindi,” he said.
Dito sa BPSU it is still in infancy ang mga kursong ito bagamat nakikita natin very much in
demand at mas lalong lalaki ang demand dahil napakalaki ng esports sa buong mundo,” Roman
said.
He explained that they chose ML because many are playing it. “ML at Call of Duty, ‘yan ang
mga sikat. Ang nag-organize nito ang mas nakakaalam. Alam nila kung ano ang mga favorite
games at nakita nila na malaki ang ML community dito sa Bataan.”
When asked what he can advise parents, children and gamers, Roman answered “Lahat ng
sobra nakakasama, so everything has to be in moderation. Pwede mag-gaming kapag tapos na
ang homework at hindi nakakaabala sa pag-aaral.”
He said that esports can promote camaraderie, teamwork and it can also enhance critical
thinking, games strategy, strategizing but what is important is to finish schooling. He said he
learned all of these from successful gamers he has interviewed.
“It is a thriving industry getting bigger so mahalaga na mauna ang Bataan dito sa central Luzon
na pumasok ang industriya na ‘yan,” Roman said.
BCD Esports of Pilar town emerged as champion, followed by Browtatatat of Limay as Ist runner
up, Diyata Pares Overcook of Abucay as 2 nd runner up and Broken ASF of BPSU as 3 rd runner up.
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