Smart-backed Sibol shoots for esports glory in 33rd SEA Games

^{Sibol is aiming to defend its SEA Games Mobile Legends: Bang Bang gold}

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ national esport team, Sibol, is all geared up for its golden quest in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bangkok, Thailand with the backing of one of the country’s major telcos.

Mobile services providerSmart Communications Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to Sibol with its partnership with the Philippines Esports Organization (PESO).

Aside from defending the gold medal in the men’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) event of the biennial meet, the Filipino gamers also eye to rule the Arena of Valor (men) and MLBB (women) tourneys.

“We are glad to be part of Sibol’s journey to the 33rd SEA Games, as Smart has powered Sibol’s training leading to the competition,” said Lloyd Manaloto, first vice president at Smart.

Incidentally, Smart has been recognized with Best Mobile Latency by Ookla, a global leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights, according to data from the first half of 2025. This means that Smart and TNT subscribers can experience smoother gaming, as lower latency translates to quicker response times—a critical factor for mobile gaming, livestreaming, and other real-time online activities.

Subscribers can enjoy seamless real-time streaming of the SEA Games with Smart Prepaid’s UNLI5G. TNT subscribers, meanwhile, can also can catch the games with Saya All 99, which includes 6GB open-access data, Unli Calls and Texts, Unli TikTok, FB, and Mobile Legends.

“There’s no need to miss out on the real-time esports moments or your favorite flag-bearing teams. Let’s all rally behind Team Pilipinas and show our support,” Manaloto added.

For his part, PESO Executive Director Marlon Marcelo said: “Smart has always shared our vision of supporting esports in the Philippines and empowering our athletes. Together, we hope to continue inspiring more Filipinos and open doors for young players to dream big.”

Updates on Sibol’s SEA Games progress are available on the team’s official Facebook, TikTok and YouTube accounts.

The Games kicked off last December 9 and will run until the 22nd.