Esports has rapidly evolved into one of the most popular competitive pursuits among the younger generation in the Philippines, with the country consistently producing world-class talents and fielding one of Southeast Asia’s strongest national teams.
At the forefront of that growth is SIBOL general manager Jab Escutin, whose vision for a more professional and sustainable esports ecosystem has helped shape the direction of Philippine esports both on and off the competition stage.
Escutin, who co-founded Bren Esports in 2017, entered the industry with a clear mission—to bring structure, professionalism, and accountability to what was then a rapidly growing but largely unregulated scene.
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Looking back on the early years of Philippine esports, Escutin recalled the challenges faced by both players and organizations as the industry struggled with a lack of standards and proper governance.
“Everybody wanted to be an esports athlete, but I got so frustrated because nobody understood what contracts are. Owners and athletes were getting scammed left and right. It was the wild, wild west back then. Nobody was putting in the effort to change the culture or the mindset,” Escutin said, as quoted by The GAME.
Rather than simply building a successful organization, Escutin said Bren Esports sought to redefine what it meant to be a professional esports team by prioritizing player welfare and establishing better organizational practices.
“My goal was to make everyone understand what a professional esports athlete should be. I would tell everyone who shared our vision that this was going to be a long and hard road because we were changing how these guys operate. We had backing and prominence, but some would say we were also very antagonistic. The players liked us because we treated them well, but other owners saw us as a threat,” he added.
Nearly a decade later, Escutin now carries that same philosophy into his role as general manager of SIBOL, where he oversees the country’s preparations for regional and international tournaments while ensuring that every aspiring national team member has an equal opportunity to earn a roster spot.
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Central to that vision is a merit-based selection process through open national qualifiers, a system Escutin has championed since taking over the national program.
“Ang lagi ko sinasabi is as long as I’m here, I will give the opportunity to everybody. I don’t want to handpick or give favors. So that’s why I proposed that there has to be a national qualifier. It has to be something that anyone can join,” Escutin continued.
Under the current system, national qualifiers are held before every major international competition, allowing players and teams across the country to compete for the chance to wear the Philippine colors. The approach ensures that roster selections are based on current form rather than reputation, while also providing rising talents with a pathway to the national team.
The format, however, has not been without its critics. Some members of the esports community have argued that the country’s most established players should automatically represent the Philippines in major tournaments instead of going through another qualification process.
Escutin disagrees, emphasizing that esports differs significantly from traditional sports because of its constantly changing competitive landscape. Frequent game patches, balance updates, and shifting strategies can dramatically alter the strength of teams in a short period, making it essential for every player to continually prove themselves.
Beyond competition, Escutin believes esports has now reached a level of mainstream acceptance that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.
“One of the best things I have heard was from one of the Saudi princes when they were giving a presscon. He said ‘in the last five years, nobody has been born where esports competitions wasn’t the norm.’ So right now, walang pinapanganak thinking ‘uy, bago ‘to’.
“Everybody can now see on TV, on livestreams, that this is normal, this is happening. So the best thing to happen to esports is for people to see it and think it’s another sport. Hindi ka na nagugulat, hindi na siya historical, it’s an everyday thing na,” he concluded.
Under Escutin’s stewardship, SIBOL continues to build toward sustained international success. The Philippine national esports team has established itself as a regional powerhouse, winning a combined 27 medals across four Southeast Asian Games editions and cementing the country’s reputation as one of the region’s esports leaders.
The challenge moving forward is translating that dominance onto the broader continental stage. SIBOL fell short of the podium at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, finishing without a medal despite entering the competition with high expectations. As preparations continue for future international events, Escutin remains focused on strengthening the national program through transparency, equal opportunity, and a commitment to raising professional standards across Philippine esports.
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