SIBOL begins Asian Games campaign with Naraka, Puyo Puyo  

SIBOL plunges into action with its Naraka: Bladepoint squad taking center stage on Wednesday at Aichi Sky Expo.

Richard Espejo, Von Teñoso, Kenneth Perez, and Joaquin Paclibar banner the Philippines’ Naraka: Bladepoint team. Paclibar will also be competing in the solo category.

Bunched in Group B with Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei, SIBOL will navigate unfamiliar territory in the game’s Martial Artist Mode, but hopes its preparation will be enough to secure a top-two finish and advance to the semifinals.

“We expect good execution based on our preparation. We’re also excited because Naraka can be known globally, and we already know how these players play,” said team captain Paclibar, who will be SIBOL’s reserve in the team event.

“We always meet these people in NetEase online tournaments, but the difference this time is that it’s not Battle Royale, so it’s more about pure fighting skills. We’re trusting our preparation mentally, emotionally, and physically, and then we just need to execute,” he added.

Meanwhile, Karl Gonzalvo will begin his Puyo Puyo Champions campaign on Thursday for the country’s national esports team backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Gonzalvo faces a formidable Group A field alongside Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong, with the hosts emerging as a particularly strong contender given Puyo Puyo’s roots in the country and its long history under Japanese developer and publisher SEGA.

But the 29-year-old content creator-turned-national athlete brings nearly two decades of experience to the challenge and steadily building his knowledge of the game.

“There is pressure both from representing the country and from the game itself, since Puyo Puyo requires quick decision-making and precision,” Gonzalvo said.

“Luckily, I get to represent the Philippines while playing one of my childhood video games — it's a dream come true to carry the flag,” he added.

Naraka: Bladepoint, a melee-focused action game featuring swordplay, ranged weapons, character abilities, and grappling-hook movement, and Puyo Puyo Champions, a fast-paced puzzle game built around matching four or more Puyos of the same color, are among the six titles the Philippines will contest at the Asiad.

SIBOL, also supported by Smart, Cignal, TV5, and Arena Social, will see action in Pokémon Unite, Honor of Kings, Identity V, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, one of the country’s strongest gold-medal prospects, later this week.

While Naraka: Bladepoint and Puyo Puyo Champions have smaller communities in the Philippines compared with more established esports titles, the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) saw the potential in its representatives and remains confident in their ability to compete in the Asiad.

Their campaign also provides an opportunity to raise the profile of both games and help grow their communities in the country.

“Selecting a national team for titles that are relatively new to Philippine gamers requires careful evaluation. Fortunately, accessible tournament data and detailed player profiles have allowed us to study these games thoroughly. Based on our findings, we are confident our athletes will be highly competitive at the Asian Games,” said SIBOL general manager Jab Escutin. 

“Fielding a national team creates valuable momentum for local communities and game publishers to host more events in the Philippines. We hope a strong showing from our players will spark new opportunities for competitive gamers nationwide.”