When ONIC Esports won this year’s Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) Southeast Asia Cup (MSC), supporters both at home and abroad speculated that this could be the end of the Philippines’ esports dominance or the end of the Philippine period in MLBB.Unlike in traditional sports, where the nationality of the player and coach is unimportant in professional leagues, nationality is inseparable in esports, whether it is a professional league or an international sports conference such as the Asian Games. Fans would always favor their countrymen first.
However, esports, like traditional sports, is evolving and growing to the point where more and more Filipino talent is being acknowledged internationally, and not just with players and coaches being part of the local delegations to the MSC or the M-Series World Championships.Teams from other MLBB professional leagues began importing Filipino talent in 2022, with many of them reaching the M4 World title with their foreign teams. The M4’s top six teams all had Filipinos on their rosters, either as coaches or players.
This has led to Filipinos winning in many MLBB events throughout the world, with the Philippines being the most represented country in the ongoing M5 World Championship at 20%, with 23 of the 114 players being Filipino or of Filipino heritage.Teams from other MLBB professional leagues began importing Filipino talent in 2022, with many of them reaching the M4 World title with their foreign teams. The M4’s top six teams all had Filipinos on their rosters, either as coaches or players.
This has led to Filipinos winning in many MLBB events throughout the world, with the Philippines being the most represented country in the ongoing M5 World Championship at 20%, with 23 of the 114 players being Filipino or of Filipino heritage.
