The Philippines is once again setting its sights on the top podium, this time in the rapidly growing world of esports. With Mobile Legends: Bang Bang officially included in the program of the 2026 Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya this September, the country is gearing up for another shot at international glory.
Bannering the campaign is SIBOL, the national esports squad tasked with continuing the Philippines’ dominance in MLBB on the global stage. Fresh off a strong run in recent international tournaments, expectations are once again sky-high as the team prepares for a gold-medal push against the best squads in Asia.
A key step in that preparation was the recently concluded SIBOL MLBB Combine, which wrapped up this week and served as a proving ground for the nation’s top talents. The event brought together elite players from powerhouse organizations such as Team Liquid, Aurora Hunters, and Team Falcons, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of the local MLBB scene.
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Beyond the star-studded player pool, SIBOL is also bolstering its coaching staff with proven minds, including veteran tactician Michael Borcado, better known in the MLBB community as “Arcadia.” Widely respected for his strategic acumen, Borcado previously made waves on the international stage by steering Malaysian teams to major titles, earning recognition as one of Southeast Asia’s top coaches.
Now, he finally gets the opportunity to represent his home country—an achievement he describes as a long-awaited personal milestone.
It took a while but coach Arcadia finally gets his chance to represent the Philippines with Team SIBOL.https://t.co/MWIsAfjcOr
— The GAME PH (@thegamephofc) March 23, 2026
Borcado admitted in a media interaction that he has been trying to coach SIBOL for a long time and it is a dream to finally represent them.
“Ever since naging foreign coach ako, ever since nagkaroon ng qualifiers, I have wanted to coach for SIBOL. I have even tried asking certain teams to accept me as their coach. Pero I understand naman na dahil may qualifiers, there is a certain process. It’s been very challenging for me professionally even though contractually, there’s no problem. It lessened my opportunities to make it to the national team,” Borcado said.
His journey underscores the stringent selection process implemented by SIBOL. To be considered for the national team, all members—from players to coaches—must go through a qualification system. For coaches in particular, eligibility requires them to be actively handling an all-Filipino roster, a rule designed to ensure alignment with the national program’s long-term development goals.
Despite the challenges, Borcado never lost sight of his ambition to don the national colors, even if it meant waiting years for the right opportunity.
“It’s been on my bucket list even nung bata pa ako. Looking at the athletes – seeing them play their sport while carrying the Philippine flag – it’s very surreal to be a part of it. That’s why I’m very thankful na nagkaroon ako ng chance to be a part of this team. I’m really excited to be in this role and we are going to do our best to get the gold,” he added.
With a blend of elite mechanical talent, experienced coaching, and a deep sense of national pride, SIBOL’s MLBB squad is shaping up to be one of the Philippines’ strongest contingents in the Asian Games esports program.
Their campaign officially begins on September 23 and will run through October 2, with regional heavyweights expected to provide stiff competition. Still, with the country’s rich history in MLBB and a renewed sense of purpose, all eyes will be on SIBOL as they attempt to once again bring pride to the Philippines—and perhaps, stand atop the podium when it matters most.
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