The Sibol men’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team reaffirmed its status as the region’s standard-bearer by delivering another commanding gold-medal performance at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Playing before a lively crowd in Bangkok, the Filipinos once again proved untouchable on the SEA Games stage.

Fielding Sanford Vinuya, Kiel Soriano, Karl Nepomuceno, Jaypee Dela Cruz, Alston Pabico, and John Carlo Roma, Sibol completed a 4-0 sweep of Malaysia in the men’s MLBB gold-medal match at the Chulalongkorn University Book Center. The victory sealed another flawless championship run for the Philippine squad.

Sibol wasted no time asserting control, racing to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and dictating the tempo early. Any hopes of a Malaysian fightback were extinguished by a dramatic turnaround in Game 3 that shifted the momentum permanently.

Historic dominance continues

The championship marked the Philippines’ fourth consecutive SEA Games gold in men’s MLBB, a streak that dates back to the event’s debut in the 2019 edition of the biennial meet. Sibol’s sustained success has set the benchmark for esports excellence in the region.

In the pivotal third game, the Nationals found themselves in deep trouble, trailing by as much as 6,000 gold and falling behind 1-12 in kills. A decisive clash in the bottom lane, however, swung the match after Sibol eliminated three Malaysian heroes in quick succession.

That sequence sparked a massive counterattack that carried through the remainder of the series. Sibol closed out the championship with a composed and clinical Game 4 performance.

Crowd, confidence fuel title run

The gold-medal win was celebrated by a vocal Filipino crowd that included Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, along with SBP president Ricky Vargas. Officials from Smart Communications, which supported the team’s preparations, were also present.

Tolentino expressed confidence in the men’s team heading into the final, noting the strong backing behind the country’s esports program. He added that the result met expectations given the squad’s track record.

Pabico said patience was key during the tense moments of Game 3, as Sibol opted to defend and wait for opportunities rather than force risky team fights. He credited Malaysia’s missteps for opening the door to the comeback.

At press time, the Sibol women’s MLBB team was also in action, aiming to improve on its silver-medal finish from the 2021 SEA Games.