Smart has been at the forefront when it comes to supporting esports in the country, and when Sibol, the Philippine national esports team, was formed, the company had no hesitations when it came to finding ways to enable our athletes in their quest to achieve the coveted gold medal at the 30th SEA Games.
Our athletes deserve the best facilities, and Smart opened the doors of the Smart Sibol Training Ground. Equipped with the fastest Wi-Fi connection from Smart and the fastest fiber internet from PLDT, the Smart Sibol Training Ground provided an excellent environment for the athletes to practice and hone their skills. The company also organized and provided support to the SEA Games Test event as well as other pocket tournaments and a two-day send-off for our esports athletes. As an added incentive, Smart also announced the “Get Gold!” program, aimed to reward athletes who win medals with cash.
Smart and Sibol have now come full circle. The 30th SEA Games provided the Philippines with many historic firsts, including esports. Sibol has won a total of five gold medals for the country, and Smart honored its “Get Gold!” campaign promise through a thanksgiving event. Led by none other than Mr. Manny Pangilinan and Ms. Jane J. Basas, President of Cignal and TV5, the awarding recognized the efforts of Sibol and their wins. The intimate gathering was held at the PLDT Building in Makati City.
In addition to the incentives already handed out by Smart to the athletes, Ms. Basas also announced that the team managers and coaches, as well as the members of Sibol – Hearthstone and Sibol – AOV will also be getting incentives in gratitude of their contribution and effort in the SEA Games.
Smart and Sibol are not done, as the future for the athletes and the program itself are bright and sky high. There are already plans for the athletes to compete in esports tournaments outside the country under the banner of Sibol, as well as preparations for the upcoming 31st SEA Games to be held in Vietnam in 2021.