PLDT Inc. Chief Leadership Transition Officer Ricky Vargas, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) SVP for Consumer Wireless Kristine A. Go, and PLDT and Smart Head of Sports Jude H. Turcuato welcomed the Smart Omega Empress to the telco’s headquarters in Makati City ahead of their upcoming international tournaments this year.
“We are delighted to see our Smart Omega Empress team slaying their way to the top of the local esports scene and carrying not only the brand, but more importantly, the excellence of Filipina esports athletes in the international arena,” Vargas said.
The Smart-backed all-Cebuana all-female Mobile Legends Bang Bang champion team in the Philippines composed of Rica Fatima “Amoreee” Amores, Sheen “Shinoa” Perez, Mery Christine “Meraaay” Vivero, Kaye Maerylle “Keishi” Alpuerto, and Gwyneth “Not Ayanami” Diagon will represent the country in the upcoming Esports World Cup in July and the International Esports Federation (IESF) World Esports Championship in November – both events happening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Asian Indoor Marial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Thailand in November.
“We have been waiting and preparing for this for so long. We can’t wait to showcase our skills once again internationally. We are very thankful to all those who believe in us, particularly to Smart, because we won’t be able to make it this far without their support and trust. We also would like to thank our fans who have been there since Day 1, who are one of the many reasons why we do our best in every competition that we face,” said Team Captain and Roamer Vivero.
Smart Omega Empress currently holds 13 championship titles from notable tournaments such as the MWI 2024 Open Qualifiers and Unipin Ladies Series, among many others. They also represented the Philippines and finished with a silver medal as part of the SIBOL contingent in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in 2023.
For Coach Salman “King Salman” Macarambon, they have high hopes for the team as they prepare for the upcoming tournaments abroad. “We begin our trainings with a prayer for guidance and we make sure to support and strengthen our players’ mentality ahead of each game.”
Commitment to boost esports in the country and beyond
Smart has long supported the fastest growing esports scene in the country with its products, programs, and services that are geared to help in nurturing the passion and talent of all Filipino gamers. For the seventh year in a row, Smart announced that it has renewed its strategic partnership with international gaming developer and publisher Moonton Games for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines tournaments in 2024.
Smart has also supported numerous tournaments – from the grassroots to casual gamers to the national level to encourage Filipinos to showcase their gaming skills. Smart and TNT customers who want to take their gameplay to another level and enjoy the esports tournament experience may join the GIGA Arena at http://gigaarena. Aside from that, Smart customers can enjoy the best mobile gaming experience on 5G devices by registering to Smart Unli 5G offers, which come with unlimited data for all sites and apps via the Smart App or their trusted retailers nationwide.
