The NBA successfully held their NBA 2K League APAC Invitational this past weekend at the High Grounds Cafe in Quezon City, with Australian side NO WAY OUT claiming the title over local side NAOS eSports.
Matches were broadcast online through the NBA 2K League's Twitch and YouTube channels, as well as through NBA Philippines and on Cignal's Pilipinas Live app.
Featuring forty players from eight teams, the tournament used NBA 2K24's Pro-Am mode to determine the best 5-on-5 online team, going about with a best-of-three single elimination bracket with a $5,000 prize money and eligibility for the NBA 2K League draft.
NAOS eSports rode on their upset of Laus Group Eagles all the way to the final, taking them to the limit (52-61, 43-34, 57-45) in Day 1. LGE Agilas is coming of a strong stint representing the Philippines in eFIBA competition as eGilas Pilipinas, and was considered as among the heavy favorites in this tournament.
NAOS would formalize its finals berth in Day 2, but not without being taken to the limit by Chinese side Trapper (69-66, 52-64, 59-56).
In contrast, NO WAY OUT needed a little bit of luck for their path.
After losing to LGE 45ers (51-30, 59-63, 44-52) on Friday, they were asked back in to participate due to health-related protocols ruling out supposed semifinalist Aegis Indonesia Patriots, they managed to avenge their defeat to the same 45ers side with a sweep (64-37, 50-42).
The Aussies would then take care of business in the final (56-46, 52-35) against NAOS, to complete their fairy tale ending.
The league is looking forward to setting up additional events for a potential return trip next year, noting the country's love for basketball.
NBA 2K League head for business development Lindsay Ullman shares, "I think it's clear that Manila is absolutely the perfect place particularly because of how big basketball and the NBA (are) here, and then on top of that when we look at 2K, the Philippines is one of the top countries in Southeast Asia in playing 2K. So for us, just the natural fit, in terms of culture, fandom, and excitement, makes the place [perfect]."
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