Converge powers PBA Esports Bakbakan league playoffs

THE top four teams in the PBA ‘Esports Bakbakan’ league will face off on May 1 as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will be bringing its first esports tournament to an exciting conclusion powered by the pure fiber connectivity of Converge.

The eight-man esports teams of the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, TNT Tropang Giga, NorthPort Batang Pier will battle it out at Ayala Malls Circuit, Activity Center in Makati for the P 1 million prize pool (P 750,000 will go to the champion, and P 250,000 to the runner-up).

The four teams will engage in the best-of-three tournament in the semi-finals. The finalists will then face off in a best-of-five format.

“The first esports tournament of the PBA has turned out to be as exciting and heart-pounding as the PBA games themselves. Converge is glad to be the connectivity partner of the PBA ESports Bakbakan, bringing all this action week after week to gamers, fans and followers. No better technology can bring this level of competitive action with speed and quality like fiber technology,” said Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy.

The inaugural season of the PBA Esports Bakbakan featured all twelve franchise teams of the PBA competing in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament. Each franchise has an eight-man crew consisting of two PBA cagers, two gaming influencers or players, one student, and three fans.

Leading fiber internet provider Converge is the official connectivity partner of the PBA Esports Bakbakan, providing its high speed and high capacity internet connection to power up the high-intensity tournaments week after week. The partnership is aimed at showing the fiber capability of Converge in powering up the esports tournament.

Converge is making a mark in the gaming industry not just with its own franchise team in the PBA but through its tailored gaming product specifically catering to Filipino gamers: the Converge GameChanger.

Smart golfest boosts FIBA World Cup programs

SMART Communications Inc., gathered esteemed sports personalities, media, and special guests for a friendly round of golf games and a day of fellowship for the Philippine sports community at the Smart Sports Invitational, held recently at The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite.

The event also served as a jump-off point for promoting Smart’s involvement in the FIBA World Cup Draw, which took on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum; and the FIBA in Manila Draw Festival, an all-day street festival celebrating the Filipinos’ love for basketball through performances, activations, and other exciting basketball-themed activities.

Hosted by television presenter and athlete Gretchen Ho and PLDT First Vice President – Head of Sports and Executive Director of MVP Sports Foundation Mr. Jude Turcuato, the historic event.

Smart Sports Invitational welcomed esteemed guests and discussed the partnership between FIBA and Smart and presented the available FIBA merchandise to the invitational participants. Smart took charge of several key promotional activities leading to the draw and games, including the 3D billboard activation, EDSA “shootboard”, and FIBA-themed bus waiting sheds within Bonifacio Global City. The invitational also revealed the remaining key events for FIBA in the Philippines, as discussed by Erika Dy, Deputy Event Director - Local Organizing Committee, FIBA World Cup 2023. These include the 100-day game countdown and individual game ticket launch in May, the launch of the Philippine Basketball Hall of Fame in July, and the World Congress for FIBA delegates in August leading to the games.

“I look forward to activities na naka line-up and I’m happy to help SBP for this coming World Cup.” The former Gilas stalwart also revealed that he is doing well in his recovery as he

FOODPANDA crowned the champion team for this year’s Panda Legends: Ultimate Battle, a Mobile Legends online tournament for its Ka-panda delivery partners.

Out of the 128 teams who registered last March 14 and showcased their gaming skills, only one team prevailed, taking home a prize pool of P250,000. Aside from the cash prize, each winning team member also received P2,000 worth of gas vouchers, which they can use for their delivery shifts.

Before the finals round last April 21, the online tournament had a series of elimination games, with each round offering cash prizes to the participants.

The tournament is the third time Foodpanda opened the mobile game competition to its delivery partners. According to operations director Patricia Jacinto, Panda Legends aims to encourage Foodpanda’s Ka-panda delivery partners to play like a panda and foster friendly competition amongst the rider fleet. “There’s no doubt that eSports continues to boom and is a favorite past-time within the Ka-panda community. After our successful first run last 2021, we knew we needed another round of competition, and this year became the perfect time to do it again.”

“Nabuo yung grupo namin habang nag-aantay lang ng booking sa isang waiting shed. Di namin akalain na makaka-abot kami hanggang finals at mananalo pa,” narrates Ka panda Art Randy Maliwat from the winning team.

“Salamat foodpanda dahil bukod sa sobrang enjoy na makasama at makalaro yung mga kapwa Ka-panda ko, nanalo pa kami ng malaking premyo.” Yran Basco, a Ka panda working still does normal workouts, albeit slowly.

NATIONAL University survived a scare against Ateneo de Manila University, claiming a 5-set victory, 21-25, 28-30, 25-14, 25-13, 15-13, to secure the second twice-to-beat incentive in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs, who won six straight games, finished the elimination round with an 11-3 record.

NU’s Final Four opponent will depend on the results of Adamson University’s and the University of Santo Tomas’ final elimination matches against Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines, respectively, on Sunday.

Faith Nisperos gave NU the match point after a failed attack attempt that did not cross over, but AC Miner got one back for the Blue Eagles with a running attack that went off the block, 14-13.

“So far, I’m still working out, doing slow cardio workouts, and a lot of walking by playing golf. I’m not stopping. Still doing the normal things, but I’m listening to my body.”

Tenorio had worn the Gilas uniform several times. His best achievement in Gilas uniform was when they won the 2012 William Jones Cup, finishing with a 7-1 record, capped by a victory over the USA squad in their last game.