The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
Buoyed by the success of its inaugural season, the PBA Esports Bakbakan Dota 2 tournament kicks off on October 24 with all 12 member-teams seeing action.
Reigning champion Converge will lead teams set to compete in the Dota 2 second edition and fifth overall installment of the PBA Esports Bakbakan being held in partnership with Dark League Studios since 2022.
The PBA Esports Bakbakan initially featured popular online games, such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), Playpark Streetballers, Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) and Season 1 of the Dota 2.
A total prize pool of P500,000 is up for grabs among the 12 teams, each represented by their own players, including eight-time PBA MVP and avid gamer/streamer June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel.
Joining Fajardo are Kamron Vigan-Fleming of reigning champion Converge, Jayson David of runner-up Barangay Ginebra, Barkley Eboña of TNT Tropang Giga, Fran Yu of NorthPort), Jake Pascual of NLEX), Jaydee Tungcab of Blackwater, Nick Demusis of Rain or Shine, Kai Ballungay of Phoenix, Paolo Hernandez of Terrafirma), Alvin Pasaol of Meralco) and Jerrick Ahanmisi of Magnolia).
PBA representatives have the option to play for the teams that make the cut after the ongoing nationwide registration and qualifiers.
Only the top 12 teams from the qualifiers will advance to the main tournament of the PBA Esports Bakbakan, with the privilege of selecting their PBA franchise based on rankings.
Last season, more than 300 teams battled through the qualifiers to the finals in an online format, and the numbers are expected to increase this year.
The grand finals will be held live at a yet-to-be-announced mall in Manila on Nov. 22.
From the 12 qualifying teams, only the top four will move on to compete for the PBA Esports Bakbakan title.
The tournament is open to amateur players aged 16 and above, ensuring a level playing field by excluding professional gamers.
However, it’s about more than just competition for Asia’s first pro basketball league also aims to bridge the gap between traditional sports and the rapidly growing Esports scene in today’s digital age.
“Magkaibang kultura, magkaibang sports pero napagsama natin ang basketball at Esports. Malaking bagay sa amin sa PBA itong Esports. Win-win situation for both,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial during the media launch of Season 2 on Thursday at the Dark League Studios headquarters in Quezon City.
Dark League Studios, a leading advocate, organizer, and driving force in the country’s Esports scene, shares the same vision.
“With the branding of the PBA on top of this program, we’re going to attract more users and fans from Season 1 where we had 351 teams. That’s how famous the PBA is and it’s very good to our vision of bridging the gap between physical sports and Esports,” added Dark League Studious co-founder and CEO AC Valdenor.
“Playing in the PBA for so long. Obviously, we represent the physical competition, we like to unite our country through athleticism, teamwork, tactical strategical plays on the court and when we talk about PBA Esports, its very similar in so many ways, obviously were flipping the script a little bit and were going to digital realm, but its really about expanding what competition needs in the modern age, and we all know best here in our country, how gaming is robust whether that’s in the sports industry, like in different industries across the board, we can all unite in game” said Jared Dillinger of Dark League Studios, Lead of International Partnership and Web3.
Last year, the Converge FiberXers 747 team defeated Barangay Ginebra Manta Esports 3-2, to claim the top prize of P150,000.
The 747 roster includes Marvin “Boomy” Rushton, Muhammad “InYourdreaM” Anugrah, Daud “Db-” Budiawan, Karl “Karl” Baldovino, and Jaunuel “Jaunuel” Arcilla.