Members of the Philippine team for the Fiba Esports Open 2020. SBP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is out to prove it is also a force in the virtual basketball stage when it competes in the first-ever Fiba Esports Open which begins Friday.
Representing the Philippine team are two-time NBA 2K Asia Champion Rial Polog Jr. aka Rial; NBA 2K17 Asia champion Custer Galas aka Aguila, NBA 2K18 Asia Champion Philippe Alcaraz Herrero IV aka Izzo; Clark Banzon aka Clark; Aljon Cruzin aka Shintarou; and reserves David John Timajo aka Alt; and Rocky
Braña aka Rak. The team will be coached by Nite Alparas.
“Our participation in the FIBA Esports Open 2020 is an amazing opportunity to show the whole world that Philippine Basketball is a force in any arena that it is played in, digital or otherwise.” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio.
“We are proud to be represented by the best of the best that the country has to offer and have no doubt that Team Pilipinas will show off the intensity, the heart, and the honor that we have when we play this game that we love.”
With an experienced crew, the Philippine team is favored to win when it plays Indonesia in five head-to-head games.
“I believe Team Pilipinas is a dream team, and I’m just humbled that I’m part of this because I have been playing this game almost half of my life” said a confident Herrero, who is the team captain.
The games, which will be streamed live on the Facebook pages of Fiba and SBP, will be played on NBA 2K’s Pro-AM game mode where each controls a single player on the court just like a real-life basketball game.
“Our Team Pilipinas is on the cusp of something great here.” said Butch Antonio, Director of Operations of SBP. “The great thing about competing in the virtual realm of esports is that there’s no size mismatch, no height difference, there’s only the dedication and drive to win–something that our sportsmen have always had in spades.”