The Philippines may have missed out on an expected Mobile Legends: Bang Bang gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, but the country’s esports body still considers Sibol’s campaign a success.
The Philippines finished the esports competition in Aichi-Nagoya with two bronze medals, earned by its Pokémon Unite and Honor of Kings squads. These were the country’s first esports medals since the discipline became a full medal sport at the Asian Games.
Two Medals Mark Major Progress
Philippine Esports Organization (PeSO) executive director Marlon Marcelo highlighted the improvement from the previous Asian Games, where the Philippines finished without an esports medal.
Six of the seven Sibol teams that went through the qualifiers secured spots at the Games, with Pokémon Unite and Honor of Kings eventually reaching the podium.
Marcelo described the result as a success despite the disappointment surrounding the country’s other teams.
MLBB Loss Remains a Major Disappointment
The biggest setback came in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, where the Philippines entered the tournament as one of the favorites for gold.
Sibol’s MLBB squad swept Jordan and Kazakhstan during the group stage before suffering a 1-2 quarterfinal loss to Indonesia. The defeat ended the team’s medal hopes and became one of the most disappointing moments of the campaign.
The Philippines also saw its Identity V squad eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Sibol Looks Toward 2027
PeSO plans to reassess its national program following the Asian Games, including potential changes to the MLBB setup.
The federation will also have to decide how to distribute its limited resources as Sibol prepares for a busy 2027. Upcoming competitions include the inaugural Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in Kuwait and the SEA Games in Malaysia.
For Marcelo, however, the two bronze medals provide a clear starting point. After going from zero medals to two, Sibol will now aim to turn that progress into its first Asian Games esports gold at its next opportunity.