The SIBOL Honor Of Kings national team officially punched its ticket to the Asian Games after completing a dominant run in the qualifiers at the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel in Malaysia, capped by a 2-0 sweep of Uzbekistan that secured a flawless 3-0 record in Group A.
The qualification came before the Filipinos’ final group-stage showdown against regional rival Indonesia, giving SIBOL a chance to finish the qualifiers on a high note while already looking ahead to the continental stage later this year.
Head coach Gerald Gelacio welcomed the achievement but stressed that the team remains locked in despite already securing its place in Japan.
“Actually, sobrang saya namin kasi pasok na tayo sa Main Event. Isang karangalan para sa amin ang ma-represent ang Pilipinas sa Asian Games. Of course, ‘yung approach namin going sa last match namin versus Team Indonesia is paghahandaan pa rin namin sila. May rivalry tayo versus them so papakita namin ang lakas ng Pinas,” Gelacio said.
The match against Uzbekistan proved to be SIBOL’s toughest test of the qualifiers so far. Unlike their previous dominant performances, the Filipinos found themselves in an early battle as Uzbekistan took a 2-1 kill advantage in the opening minutes.
SIBOL quickly flipped the momentum with six straight kills, highlighted by Chammy Paul Nazarrea’s aggressive plays in the top lane during the sixth minute. The turnaround allowed the Filipinos to take full control before Dragon Dajao delivered a crucial double strike midway through the 10th minute.
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The Philippines closed Game 1 in style, producing a 5-for-0 Ace that ended Uzbekistan’s hopes of a comeback.
Game 2 saw SIBOL make a roster adjustment as Jhon Mike Tungol entered the lineup for Dajao, and the debutant immediately made an impact. Tungol’s early kill helped ignite another strong start, pushing the Philippines to a 5-0 lead late in the fifth minute.
The national team dismantled Uzbekistan’s defense and finished the second game with a commanding 12-0 kill scoreline, completing an eight-minute sweep.
Roamer Charles Roman Cruz Esguerra played a major role in the victory, contributing two kills and 10 assists, while Tungol impressed in his first appearance with the national team by adding two kills and eight assists.
The perfect record not only secured SIBOL’s Asian Games berth but also reinforced the Philippines’ growing presence in Honor of Kings esports.
With their spot in Nagoya already guaranteed, the Filipinos now shift their focus to Indonesia — a familiar Southeast Asian rival and a potential preview of the battles waiting at the Asian Games stage.
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