The Philippines remains the undisputed king of Southeast Asian esports. In a dominant display at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, the Sibol Men's MLBB team swept Malaysia 4-0 to clinch the gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

This victory marks a historic fourth consecutive gold medal for the country in the men's division, a reign that began when esports debuted at the 2019 SEA Games in Manila. The squad, anchored by the core of reigning world champions Team Liquid PH, completed an immaculate campaign, going undefeated from the group stages all the way to the podium.

Photo from Moonton Games/Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

The Roster of Champions

The gold-winning squad featured a mix of veteran poise and explosive talent:

1. Jungler: Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno
2. Gold Laner: Kiel "Oheb" Soriano
3. EXP Laner: Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya
4. Mid Laner: Alston "Sanji" Pabico
5. Roamer: Jaypee "Jaypee" Dela Cruz
6. Substitute: John Carlo "Caloy" Roma

The Turning Point: The "Miracle" Game 3

While the final scoreline reads as a clean sweep, Game 3 provided one of the most heart-stopping moments of the tournament.

Malaysia, determined to break the Philippines' streak, stormed to a commanding lead. By the mid-game, they held a massive 9.2k gold advantage and a suffocating 13-1 kill lead. The Filipino squad was pushed to the brink, defending their base against wave after wave of pressure.

The tide turned in the 16th minute. In a clash that will be replayed in highlight reels for years, KarlTzy executed a miraculous Lord steal, snatching the objective right from under Malaysia's nose. The steal, combined with a precise counter-engage led by Sanji and Oheb, allowed Sibol to wipe four Malaysian heroes and march straight down the midlane to steal the win.

"Nag-usap-usap lang talaga kami na hindi pa talaga namin kaya sa team fight. Nag-defend muna kami. Nagkamali lang talaga ‘yung Malaysia," (We just talked and agreed we couldn't take the team fight yet. We defended first. Malaysia just made a mistake.) said Sanji after the match.

Riding the momentum of that improbable comeback, Sibol made quick work of Game 4, closing out the series in under 14 minutes to seal the gold.

Heartbreak for the Women's Team

Photo from Moonton Games/Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

While the men celebrated, the Sibol Women's team faced a heartbreaking finish earlier in the day. In a grueling best-of-seven series that went the distance, the Filipinas fell to Malaysia 3-4, settling for the silver medal for the second consecutive SEA Games. Despite a valiant effort to reach match point at 3-2, the Malaysian squad rallied in the final two games to snatch the title.

What This Means for PH Esports

The 2025 SEA Games has once again solidified the Philippines' status as the region's premier esports powerhouse. With the men's team extending their dynasty and the women's team consistently podiuming, the country's "golden era" in Mobile Legends shows no signs of fading.

Stay tuned for more updates as Sibol competes in the upcoming mixed Free Fire finals.

READ MORE:

1. SIBOL MLBB Women fall in heartbreaking loss to Malaysia, settle for SEA Games silver
2. Regional dominance: Sibol Men outclass Malaysia, clinch 4th straight MLBB gold in SEAG
3. SEA Games 2025: Sibol retains esports MLBB gold

Featured Photo via SEA GAMES POOL