MYANMAY – Local eSports team ONIC Philippines bagged first place at the Mytel Myanmar COVID-19 Charity Tournament, an international Mobile Legends tournament organized to raise funds for COVID-19 relief efforts held last March 30 to April 8. The prize pool from the tournament amounting to $10,000 (approx. P 507,360.00) will be donated to COVID-19 cure and prevention efforts in Myanmar.
Despite having only been formed in 2019, ONIC Philippines has already proven they’re impossible to ignore. Much like their mascot, the unassuming yet formidable porcupine, the team has held their own against the larger, more legacy eSports teams. In their first year, the underdog team qualified as the runner-up in the Mobile Legends Pro League-Philippines (MPL) Season 4, the local qualifier for the MLBB World Championship, the largest and most prestigious mobile eSports competition in Southeast Asia.
In the Mytel charity tournament, organized by game developer Moonton and telecommunications firm Mytel Myanmar, eight Southeast Asian eSports teams from Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines battled it out online in double elimination brackets. From the group stages, only six teams qualified for the playoffs led by ONIC Philippines and the Burmese Ghouls, who secured their slots in the semi-finals with 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Unopposed in the semi-finals, the Yellow and Black and the Ghouls faced off once more at the Grand Finals, which ended in the latter’s defeat (3-2) and silver finish. Meanwhile, the Yangon Galacticos, also from Myanmar, failed to quell the advance of ONIC Philippines earlier in the semi-finals (0-2) and were forced to settle for third place.
Consecutively, ONIC Philippines also nabbed first place at the Amplfy WFH Charity Cup held last April 9 when it trounced first runner-up and longtime rival Bren Esports (3-1). Proceeds raised will be donated to the United Nations COVID-19 response fund according to Tier One Entertainment, the Philippine-based eSports agency who organized the tournament.
Everyone has a part
For ONIC Philippines, using their platform to collaborate with different organizations is an important way to spread awareness and encourage others to donate to COVID-19 relief and response efforts. ESports competitions for charity and the use of digital payments are some of the ways the community can raise donations for COVID-19 relief efforts while staying at home.
“We hope we are inspiring others to help out too. No matter how big or small our actions may seem, any help we give can make a difference. Everyone has a part.” said Team Captain Jonmar Villaluna.
The team will continue to look at how it can partner or support different NGOs and institutions in response to COVID-19, said ONIC Philippines Country Manager and Head of Business Development Rafael Sanchez.
The Mytel Myanmar COVID-19 Charity Tournament was attended by ONIC Philippines, the Burmese Ghouls, Claw Esports, Team SMG, Yangon Galacticus, Outworld, Impunity, and Team Reslection. More information on the event, including team standings, is available on the Myanmar Game Hub Facebook page.
The Amplfy WFH Charity Cup was organized by Tier One Entertainment, an eSports and gaming agency based in the Philippines founded by eSports veteran Tryke Gutierrez and celeb cosplayer and gamer Alodia Gosiengfao. More information on Amplfy and the WFH Charity Cup can be found on their Facebook page.
