[Feb. 15, 2019] Leading digital services provider PLDT Inc. and its
mobile arm Smart Communications are revving up their esports program
as they launch their official professional esports team called 'Omega.'
Formed in partnership with professional esports management Sterling
Global Dragons, 'Omega' will represent PLDT and Smart in the much anticipated
The Nationals, the country's first franchise-based esports league.
Kicking off on March 17, The Nationals will pit the official esports
teams of the league’s six co-founding members against each other
in top competitive games, including the official Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games-sanctioned titles Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Tekken
7.
As such, The Nationals serves as a hotbed of world-class athletes
who may represent the country in major international esports events.
Aside from PLDT and Smart, The Nationals co-founders fielding their
teams are BrenPro Inc., Cignal TV Inc., Execration, HappyFeet Esports,
and STI Education Systems.
Elevating esports in the Philippines
PLDT and Smart have tapped professional esports management Sterling
Global Dragons for the launch of their official pro gaming team, 'Omega.'
The team will represent PLDT and Smart in the much anticipated The Nationals,
the country's first franchise-based esports league on March 17. IN THE
PHOTO (from left): Miko Cuartero, SGD Team Manager; Glenn Kendrick Lim,
SGD Gaming Director; Andrew L. Santos, FVP and Consumer Marketing Head
for PLDT and Smart; Thomas Ting, PLDT Product; JC Ramos, Smart Brand
Marketing.
Launching ‘Omega’
as our official professional esports team reinforces the long-standing
commitment of PLDT and Smart to elevate esports in the Philippines,
as well as provide the ultimate gaming experience for Filipino gamers,
fans, and enthusiasts,” said Andrew L. Santos, FVP and Consumer
Marketing Head for PLDT and Smart.
“Experienced 'Omega' athletes show what Filipinos are capable
of achieving with their passion and dedication to esports. Hence, more
than being a formidable team, ‘Omega’ serves as an inspiration
to fellow gamers, who, with the right support, can be at par with the
best in the world,” adds Santos.
"We share PLDT and Smart’s vision to legitimize and professionalize
esports in the Philippines, and our strategic partnership to establish
and manage ‘Omega’ is a huge step toward this goal. Collaborations
like this serve as a platform for the gaming community to empower home-grown
esports athletes in a holistic way, and enable them to reach their full
potential, and set high standards for the community,” said Gerry
Lim, Sterling Global Dragons President.
Multi-awarded esports athletes
'Omega' consists of high-ranking DOTA 2 players including (from
left) Jonas Samonte (in-game name: Nasjo); Jaysie Garan (Yaj); Pedro
de Paula (Efking); Julius Cesar Sto Domingo (Julz) ; and Jinn Marrey
Lamatao (Palos)
Omega’
consists of high-ranking players Julius Cesar Sto Domingo (in-game name:
Julz); Jonas Samonte (Nasjo); Jaysie Garan (Yaj); Jinn Marrey Lamatao
(Palos); and Pedro de Paula (Efking), with team coach Josef Brazal (JL`).
They represent the organization that bagged the Dota 2 championship
at the recent ‘Road to the Nationals’ nationwide tournament,
and made it to prestigious international tournaments such as The Kuala
Lumpur Major SEA Qualifier and The International 2018 SEA Regional Qualifier,
among others.
'Omega' is also fielding a multi-awarded team for Mobile Legends
consisting of players (from left) Karl Nepomuceno (in-game name:Karl);
Rico J. Esto (Levi); EJ Esperanza (Boo); Jules Carmann Marcelo (Lex);
and Steve Dale Vitug (Dale).
‘Omega’ is also fielding a multi-awarded team for Mobile
Legends consisting of players Jules Carmann Marcelo (Lex); Rico J. Esto
(Levi); Karl Nepomuceno (Karl); Steve Dale Vitug (Dale); and EJ Esperanza
(Boo). Together, they clinched the MLMEMES championship title, as well
as placed in various tournaments including Mobile Legends Professional
League Season 2 (1st runner-up) and Mobile Esports Arena (1st runner-up),
among others.
Juliano Lozano (right) will represent ‘Omega’ for
the console game Tekken 7. Lozano is regarded as the Philippines’
best player for Tekken 7’s characters Jin and Bob, and recently
ranked third among Tekken 7 players in the country. He will be coached
by his brother Dannel Lozano.
Meanwhile, 23-year old Juliano Lozano (Jules) will represent ‘Omega’
for the console game Tekken 7. Lozano is regarded as the Philippines’
best player for Tekken 7’s characters Jin and Bob, and recently
ranked third among Tekken 7 players in the country. He will be coached
by his brother Dannel Lozano (Pica).
Powered by PLDT Home Fibr and Smart LTE
Through
the years, PLDT and Smart have led in championing esports in the country
by providing the best gaming experience for Filipinos through their
services, and by mounting world-class esports events.
In 2016, PLDT and Smart backed ESL One, the first ever major international
esports competition in the Philippines, which featured DOTA 2 teams
from all over the world, including Team Secret and Fnatic. Both PLDT
and Smart also helped put together Manila Masters, the country’s
biggest international esports tournament in 2017, which brought together
eight of the best international DOTA 2 teams to compete in the Philippines.
Since 2013, PLDT and Smart have also been staunch supporters of the
Esports and Gaming Summit (ESGS), the biggest gaming convention in the
Philippines that features exciting exhibits, cosplay competition, and
fan games.
Filipino gamers can enjoy gaming in the comfort of their home or
on the go, powered by PLDT’s fastest Home Fibr connection and
Smart’s fastest LTE network.
Follow the journey of ‘Omega,’ and the rest of the professional
esports teams in the upcoming “The Nationals” via the official
Facebook accounts of PLDT Home (www.facebook.com/PLDTHome)
and Smart (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications),
and their official Twitter and Instagram accounts (@PLDTHome)
and (@LiveSmart).
Catch The Nationals live on EGG Channel on Cignal TV and ESPN5 Plus
starting March 17.