Sibol backs Falcons-led roster for MLBB Asia qualifier

The top brass of the Philippine national esports team, Sibol, has expressed full confidence and support for the country’s male representative for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the upcoming IESF Asia Qualifier.

Sibol will be mostly composed of Team Falcons PH’s Pheww, Flap, Super Marco, KyleTzy, and Owgwen, with substitutes Sanford of Team Liquid PH and Kelra of ONIC PH. The team will be coached by Team Falcons PH’s Robert “Trebor” Sanchez.

While Team Falcons PH finished third in the most recent MPL Philippines Season 15—behind runner-up ONIC PH and champion Team Liquid PH—Sibol officials emphasized that the lineup was selected through a rigorous and fair process.

“That is why we hold a qualifier and the combine. Who we want is the current; when they played in MPL, ONIC PH and Team Liquid PH were better. But when we did the qualifier, [Team Falcons PH] was the best,” said Sibol head coach Ralph "Leathergoods" Llabres.

“We have the best players, so regardless who represents—even last year we were represented by amateurs—we still fought for a gold medal. So it really does not matter for us, especially when it comes to MLBB, because we really do have the best.”

Meanwhile, Sibol General Manager Jab Escutin stressed that while Team Falcons PH finished in the top 3 of MPL PH Season 15, any of the top four teams could have won the league on any given day.

“If you look at the global community of MLBB, we see comments to give the Philippines a gold medal and ask who is fighting for second? It is a testament to the Filipino esports athletes, specifically for MLBB. Even in the last IESF, we sent an MDL team and went to the grand finals,” said Escutin.

“It is a testament to the level of play of these guys. In the MPL, anybody in the top four could have won the championship one way or another. That is the level of the Filipino right now. I think it also says a lot about the strategy of Sibol in terms of doing the qualifiers.”