All systems go for eFIBA World Finals in Clark

 Standing from L to R - Julian Mallillin - Coach Nite Alparas - Clark Banzon - Seating from L to R - Prich Diez - Kenneth Gutierrez - Isaiah Alindada

The stage is set, the teams are ready, and the world will be watching as the Philippines hosts the eFIBA World Finals presented by Predator and sponsored by Smart, PLDT, Red Bull, and Nike. It will be on December 11 and 12 at the SMX Convention Center in Clark, Pampanga.

Eight teams qualified through Regional Championships in eFIBA Season 3 and these squads have been divided into two groups. Group A has USA, Algeria, Portugal, and Saudi Arabia while Group B will feature Brazil, New Zealand, Turkiye, and the Philippines.

“Esports has seen a massive rise in popularity in the past few years and FIBA wanted to grow the sport of basketball not just on the court but in that field as well,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy. “The SBP is fully committed to FIBA in this endeavour and that is the reason why we’re hosting the eFIBA World Finals in Clark. The SBP’s ability in hosting world-class events is proven and we’re hopeful the World Finals will be added to the long list of successful FIBA events we’ve had in the Philippines.”

The public is invited to witness the event as admission is free.

To further heat up the event, the SBP is also hosting a 1v1 Showdown that is open to all 2K Gamers.

“We’re inviting everyone to support the eFIBA World Finals and our very own eGilas Pilipinas as they take on the world’s best at the SMX Convention Center,” added Dy. “We appreciate the consistent support from Smart in all of the SBP events including the World Finals and we’ve also partnered with the Laus Group to give our eGilas the best shot at winning. We’re banking on the help of the hometown crowd to help them out.”

Philippines to host highly anticipated eFIBA Season 3 World Finals

FIBA Sec-Gen Andreas Zagliakis with SBP President Al Panlilio, c/o FIBA and SBP

Recently hosting the FIBA World Cup, the biggest on-court basketball competition in the country, the Philippines will now do the same for the biggest online basketball tournament later this year.

The much-anticipated third season of the eFIBA World Finals is set to happen on December 11-12 at the SMX Clark Convention Center.

Forty players split into eight teams will duke it out for the title of eFIBA World Champion, as well as a share of the $50,000 prize pool. That title is currently being held by the United States, who secured that in Sweden last year.

Qualification to determine the eight teams is set to commence next month, with 61 nations fielding their respective squads in Regional Pre-Qualifying, followed by Regional Qualifying and the Regional Finals, which will last until November 7.

The top two teams from Europe, as well as the champions from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North America and the Caribbean, South America, and Oceania will comprise the field, which will be split into two groups. Top two of each group will advance into the semifinals, with the winners set to tangle in the final.

All of these matches are set to be broadcast onto the eFIBA's social media platforms, with the expectation of local casters being involved as well, aside from Vince Chang and Chris Simpson.

In securing the hosting rights, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio says, "Clark has already held multi-sport events, including the Southeast Asian Games in 2019. Now we're excited to host the Season 3 eFIBA World Finals here."

He adds, "We felt that Clark was the perfect place for this event as participants  can enjoy world-class amenities in a more relaxed, laidback vibe with our usual Filipino hospitality."

On FIBA's end, Secretary General Andreas Zagklis shares, "It's an exciting prospect to be having this season's eFIBA World Finals in the Philippines since we all know the passion the country has for our sport. This was one more time confirmed last year at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and now we can't wait to see the most high-profile eFIBA event taking place there, too."

NBA 2K25 now available

It was announced this past week that 2K has made the NBA® 2K25, the latest iteration of the top-selling NBA video game simulation series, is now available worldwide on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), PlayStation®4 (PS4®), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

In addition, NBA 2K25 for New Gen features major gameplay updates powered by ProPLAY™, new competitive modes in MyTEAM and The City, the return of nostalgic fan-favorite features, new role-playing experiences across MyCAREER, MyNBA, The W, and more.  NBA 2K25 New Gen is available on PS5®, Xbox Series X|S and, for the first time, PC.

Visual Concepts President Greg Thomas shares, "NBA 2K25 has finally arrived, building off community feedback and bringing players the ultimate basketball proving grounds where they can showcase their skills and Ball Over Everything. With the debut of thrilling new competitive modes in The City and MyTEAM, alongside enhanced features and tutorials for beginners, NBA 2K25 offers an unparalleled experience for both seasoned veterans and newcomers.  There has never been a better time to step onto the court."

What can fans expect from NBA 2K25, especially for those using the New Gen platforms:

●    GAMEPLAY POWERED BY ProPLAY™ - NBA 2K25 takes realism to the next level with 9,000 new animations, directly translated from real NBA footage.  This includes 1,500 dribbling animations, 1,100 signature shot animations from most 2023-2024 rostered NBA players, and 1,300 off-ball animations, delivering an immersive and authentic gameplay experience. 

●    ALL-NEW DRIBBLE ENGINE - NBA 2K25 features one of the biggest changes to gameplay in 15 years, with an all-new dribble engine powered by ProPLAY™, including dynamic motion from real NBA footage to create a new and more authentic feel. 

●    THE CITY - Drawing on player feedback, NBA 2K25 welcomes players with a whole new revamped interactive City designed to feel more connected and intimate, a competitive hub on the Boulevard of the Stars, the all-new ranked mode Proving Grounds, the return of MyCOURT and iconic 2K15 MyPARKS, and much more.

●    YOUR MyTEAM, YOUR WAY - NBA 2K25 introduces one of the biggest upgrades to MyTEAM in its history -Triple Threat Park, in addition to three other new game modes, including Breakout, Showdown and King of the Court, refreshing both the single player and multiplayer experiences in MyTEAM.  MyTEAM also features the return of the Auction House with an updated and streamlined process of searching, buying, and selling by consolidating everything into a one-stop shop. 

●    HEART OF A DYNASTY - MyCAREER in NBA 2K25 is all about building the next great dynasty.  Ranked against the nine best teams in NBA history, players will vie to make deep playoff runs and win championships in order to climb the Dynasty Rankings and etch their legacy above the best.  Before winning it all, players can lay the foundation of their career and relive their MyPLAYER’s journey to the NBA in a new flashback story called Heart of a Dynasty. 

●    BECOME A LEGEND IN THE W - Players can eclipse WNBA Legends and clash with rising stars in NBA 2K25, becoming the GOAT of The W against past and present greats, including WNBA stars like cover athlete A’ja Wilson or this year’s rookie class. 

●    THE STEPH ERA - MyNBA mode introduces new innovations and features, including The Steph Era, where fans can relive or rewrite the championship-studded legacy of the 2017 Golden State Warriors. MyGM arrives on New Gen for the first time enabling players to take on the role as an NBA Team’s General Manager in a full-fledged role-playing experience. 

●    LEARN 2K - NBA 2K25 introduces Learn 2K, a new mode allowing players to learn everything from the basic mechanics of 2K all the way through how to execute the most advanced moves.  Whether players want to try out the new Rhythm Shooting, learn the hundreds of moves, play mini-games, run drills, or work through practice scenarios, Learn 2K is an educational tool built to make NBA 2K25 more accessible for all.

Also, NBA 2K25 Seasons includes all-new rewards and earnable content every six weeks kicking off with Season 1 at launch. Each Season comes with 40 Levels of seasonal rewards and items for players to earn, while the Season 1 Pro Pass (sold separately) features an additional 40 Levels of premium content to earn before the end of Season 1.

For those who enjoy the music, the NBA 2K25 soundtrack will start with 61 tracks at launch, with new music being added at the start of each Season through updates from major record labels like Interscope, Capitol, as well as talented artists and producers.

Paolo Medina claims inaugural UAAP NBA2K24 title

c/o UAAP

Paolo Medina, who once celebrated from the sidelines as a student-manager during Ateneo de Manila University's UAAP Season 85 men's basketball championship, has now carved his own legacy.

On Thursday evening, in front of a raucous pro-Ateneo crowd at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box, Areté Ateneo, Medina delivered a stellar performance, defeating De La Salle University’s Kegan Yap in a tense three-game series, 2-1, to claim the inaugural UAAP Esports NBA2K24 championship.

“To be the first champion, I am very blessed. I feel I made a mark that will forever be there. I am grateful for this opportunity,” said Medina, a 22-year-old BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship student.

Medina’s journey to victory began with a strong showing in Game 1, where he used the San Antonio Spurs to defeat Yap's Chicago Bulls, 77-75. However, Yap bounced back in Game 2, leading his LA Clippers to a 93-89 victory against Medina's Sacramento Kings, forcing a decisive Game 3.

In the final game, Medina chose the Oklahoma City Thunder and secured a 74-63 win over Yap's LA Lakers, clinching the championship.

During Game 3, Medina dominated right from the start, establishing a 25-15 lead in the first quarter and never allowing Yap to close the gap. At one point, his lead stretched to as much as 20 points at the start of the fourth quarter, 66-46, before he calmly waited for the final buzzer to seal the win.

Medina’s run to the title was unexpected, as he entered the semifinals as the second seed in Pool A.

His path to the championship included a 2-0 sweep over the University of Santo Tomas' Daemiel Argame in the semifinals, with scores of 96-92 and 119-81.

Reflecting on his journey, Medina admitted it wasn't an easy path.

"Not gonna lie, coming into the tournament, I felt very confident. But then, on the first day of the group stage, I lost my game against UST, and then later that same day, I lost against UP. So, it wasn't a cakewalk. It wasn't an easy path to the finals," recalled Medina, who finished the pool phase with a 5-2 record.

Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Nite Alparas expressed immense pride in Medina's performance throughout the UAAP Esports tournament.

"Honestly, sa six months na nag-training kami, parang two months ago sinabi ko sa kanya na, 'We are 100-percent ready to compete sa UAAP.' Nangyari nga, nag-champion kami," said Alparas.

"Sobrang confident ako kay Paolo kase simula February nakita ko siya. Nakita ko yung growth niya, development niya as a player. Sabi ko, 'Pagaling ka nang pagaling. Nagi-improve ka, lahat ng sinasabi ko sa'yo naa-absorb mo. Tina-try mo yung new things. Hindi ka takot magkamali,'" he added.

Meanwhile, Yap’s path to the finals involved a hard-fought battle against top seed Erix Delos Reyes of the UST Teletigers in the other semifinals, where he triumphed 2-1 (65-53, 72-83, 88-67).

In Game 1, Yap used the Boston Celtics to defeat Delos Reyes' LA Lakers, 65-53. Despite Delos Reyes' strong response in Game 2, tying the series 72-83, Yap emerged victorious in Game 3, securing his spot in the finals and sending Delos Reyes to the bronze medal match against Argame.

In an all-UST bronze medal match, Erix Delos Reyes defeated Daemiel Argame in straight games, 2-0 (72-63, 71-57).

NBA2K24 semis set for UAAP eSports

c/o UAAP

UAAP Esports NBA2K24 Standings

GROUP A:

UST 6 -1

Ateneo 5 - 2

UP 5 - 2

FEU 5 - 2

DLSU 3 - 4

ADU 2 - 5

UE 1 - 6

NU 0 - 6

GROUP B:

UST 7 - 0

DLSU 6 - 1

Ateneo 4 - 3

UE 3 - 4

FEU 3 - 4

NU 3 - 4

ADU 1 - 6

UP 1 - 6

Games Thursday at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box:

10 a.m. - UST A vs La Salle B (Final Four)

12 p.m. - Ateneo A vs UST B (Final Four)

3 p.m. - Battle for Third

5 p.m. - Finals

The University of Santo Tomas seeks to lock in a 1-2 finish when the NBA2K24 event of the UAAP eSports tournament kicks off its postseason on Thursday morning at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box at Areté inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus..

Represented by the Teletigers eSports Club, the Growling Tigers topped both groups at the end of pool play, with Erix Daniel Delos Reyes topping Group A at 6-1 and the duo of Gideon Marty del Val and Daemiel Erzbet Argame combining to finish Group with an undefeated record after seven matches.

UST's lone blemish in pool play came against the University of the Philippines, with the Maroons winning 48-35.

NBA2K head coach Augusto de Jesus III expressed joy in seeing both of his teams advancing into the next round, which will use a best-of-three format. He hopes for the possibility of seeing them face off in the finals, adding, "Mas magiging masaya ako kapag magkatapat ang both UST sa finals. Doble yung saya. Kaya mamaya, plano namin na mag-practice na sa mga malalapit na hotel dito, wala nang uwian."

Serving as the foil for such a prospect are the duo of Justin Carl Lagac and Paolo Jesus Medina of Ateneo de Manila, as well as Kegan Audric Yap of De La Salle University.

The Blue Eagles secured the second spot in Pool A through a superior quotient against UP and Far Eastern University, with all three teams toting a 5-2 record. Ateneo advanced with a +22 quotient, compared to 0 for the Maroons and -22 for Tamaraws eSports.

Yap finished second in Pool B with a 6-1 record for Viridis Arcus eSports. His head coach Rial Polog Jr. is confident that he can pull off the upset.

Polog shares, "Yeah, I am confident (mag-champion) kasi yung nakapasok sa playoffs ay team captain namin. So, I am super confident na makuha [namin] yung championship."

Yap and delos Reyes will kick off the semifinal matches at 10am, followed by Lagac/Medina against del Val/Argame at noon.

The winners will face off in the final at 5pm, with the third place game slated at 3pm.

All matches will be shown on the social platforms on One Sports, as well as on Pilipinas Live.

La Salle, Ateneo highlight UAAP eSports opener

The inaugural UAAP eSports tournament is set to commence in explosive fashion on Tuesday inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus, with the opening day of the Valorant tournament featuring a matchup of rivals Ateneo and La Salle.

The Green Archers, represented by Viridis Arcus eSports, are expected to be the inaugural favorites, with VAE already securing five championships under their belts.

Serving as their head coach is Xavier Juan, a former student-athlete and captain of VAE who has carved his way onto the professional scene through Oasis Gaming, the side that recently claimed the Predator League Philippines crown..

Even with the awareness that they are the team to watch, Juan believes that their focus lies in training with the end goal of tacking another championship to their tally.

He shares, "On average, we trained six hours a day. We have the best mechanics and raw talent among the other teams. Coming into the tournament, the real enemy would be ourselves."

For Valorant, the eight schools have been split into two groups of four, with Group A comprising of La Salle, Far Eastern University, Adamson University, and Ateneo. Group B has the other four schools: the University of Santo Tomas, the University of the Philippines, National University, and the University of the East.

Teams will play a single round-robin within their group, with matches being comprised of best-of-two series. Going 2-0 in those series will net three points, while splitting them nets a point. Finishing in the top half of each group nets them a spot in the crossover semifinals.

Also set to kick off action on Tuesday is the NBA2K tournament, with a total of 28 matches to be played involving sixteen players split into two groups of eight.

E-Gilas Program head coach Al Timajo, who is also serving as the head coach of the University of the Philippines, thinks that Ateneo and La Salle are the teams to beat, but at the same time, expressed confidence that the Fighting Maroons have what it takes to be contenders.

He says, "In order for us to win, we need to get as many wins as possible. Treat every game as do-or-die. Our primary goal is to secure the top two spots in each bracket. I'm prepping our guys for a UP vs. UP finals—that's our ultimate goal. We hope and pray we can execute what we practice and achieve the outcome we envision."

Nite Alparas, who also coaches E-Gilas, believes that Ateneo, the team he mentors, is the top contender.

He notes, "I believe the team to beat in the UAAP NBA2K is definitely Ateneo. We've got talented and dedicated players who put in the work and preparation for this tournament. Aside from that, we also have the support of the Ateneo community. While we respect all other teams, we are confident that we have what it takes to be on top."

Alparas highlights consistency as the pathway towards success, adding that "We need to be consistent with our performance, ensuring that we bring our A-game every single time. We also need to adapt because we will be facing tough opponents, and being able to adjust on the fly will be key to any challenge."

Valorant matches are going to be played at Hyundai Hall, while the NBA2K games are to be held at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box. Matches are set to kick off at 1130am, with broadcast slated to take place at One Sports' YouTube channel, Pilipinas Live, the Varsity Channel, and One Sports.

UAAP eSports set for launch

Seated L-R: Ateneo Student-Athlete Services Assistant of the Office of College Athletics Trina Aligada, Ateneo UAO Assistant Director for Facilities Jennifer Saret, UAAP Executive Director Rene Saguisag, Jr., Ateneo Athletics Director Emmanuel Fernandez, UAAP eSports Operations Head Ades Amorato, UAAP Season 87 eSports Commissioner Monique Monasterio. Standing are the different coaches and student athletes competing in the inaugural UAAP eSports Tournament.

The much-talked about inaugural edition of eSports in the UAAP will finally take place this coming Tuesday, August 13.

Initially proposed during Season 85 by then-Board of Managing Directors representative Francis Diaz, and originally scheduled to take place at the end of UAAP Season 86, it is now set to kick off things for the hosting of the University of the Philippines in Season 87, with an initial classification of "special events."

Serving as the sub-host for the competition is Ateneo de Manila University, as illustration of their commitment towards innovation and inclusivity.

Ateneo's BoMD representative Emmanuel Fernandez shares, "Through the years, the UAAP has expanded with new events like beach volleyball, poomsae, and 3x3 basketball. This shows that the UAAP will adapt."

Tournament Commissioner Monique Monasterio says, "The goal this season was to be as inclusive as possible and give students many chances to participate, so we decided to include popular titles from different platforms." She adds, "As you know, there are many esports titles, and narrowing it down was definitely a challenge, but the UAAP is committed, so there will be more chances to join for those whose game of choice hasn’t been selected yet."

Matches are set to take place at Areté Ateneo, with three games comprising the inaugural edition: NBA2K24, Valorant, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. All eight member-institutions will be fielding participants in all three games.

The first two games will commence at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box and Hyundai Hall, respectively, while Hyundai Hall will host ML:BB on August 17-21.

NBA2K24 will be a 16-player tournament split into two pools, with each university having two student-athletes. The top two of each pool will advance into the Final Four.

Valorant splits the eight schools into two groups: Group A will have La Salle, FEU, Adamson, and Ateneo. Group B will have UST, UP, NU, and UE.

ML:BB is split into FEU, NU, Ateneo, and DLSU for Group A and UST, UP, UE, and Adamson in Group B.

Both of these game will have a best-of-two format, with three points for a win and a point for a tie. Top two teams will advance into the Final Four, with a best-of-three format in place for all postseason matchups.

With all of this, Monasterio expressed her excitement for the competition: "As someone who’s been a ‘gamer’ since I was a kid, I can hardly believe how much esports and gaming have grown as an industry. I feel incredibly lucky to not only witness it but to be a part of its history and the many ‘firsts’ in the Philippines. The feeling is surreal, and it gives me a lot of joy and hope that this is only the beginning for esports in the UAAP. Expect bigger and better things to come!"

UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr. notes about the tournament's significance. "This event continues the league’s commitment to evolving with the times while also playing a vital role in nurturing future national athletes," he says.

The tournament will be broadcast on these specific platforms: One Sports (both on television and on its YouTube channel), the UAAP Varsity Channel, and Pilipinas Live!.

NBA holds successful NBA 2K League APAC Invitational in the Philippines

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]."

NBA 2K League taps PS5 as official console

Two major titans establish a historic partnership, with the NBA 2K League announcing a multi-year deal with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), which is the group behind the PlayStation5.

The main gist of the deal sees the PS5 becoming the official console of the NBA 2K League, which starts its fourth season next month. It also is the first partnership SIE has with an eSports league for the console.

NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue shares, "NBA 2K League players are the best in the world at what they do, so it’s only fitting that they compete on the best gaming equipment in the world. PlayStation is a long-standing global leader in interactive entertainment, and we are thrilled to be able to leverage their gaming expertise and technology to create the optimal experience for NBA 2K League players and fans."

As part of the partnership, all 23 teams and its 138 players will be using PS5s during competitions and other events. Playstation will also be present in the league's broadcasts through branding and signage, whether physical or virtual.

In addition, the PS5 is to serve as the presenting partner for the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown, a online 3x3 tournament that will involve NBA 2K League players, influencers, and fans that will take place on April 9-10. To be broadcast on the NBA 2K League's social media platforms, a $25,000 prize pool awaits participants, which will take place in the setting of NBA 2K21's "The City." A qualifying tournament is scheduled on April 5-6 for US-based fans for a chance to be a part of the Three for All Showdown.

Those same platforms will be witness to custom content series collaborated on by both parties.

The NBA 2K League also intends to serve as a host for global fan tournaments via Playstation's Competition Center, an online platform offering exclusive content, tips and tricks from the best players in the world and also live eSports coverage of select events.

FIBA set for second eSports Open

eSports time with NBA2K21

The success of the first FIBA eSports Open back in June yielded immediate dividends for the International Basketball Federation. As such, FIBA has decided to set up a second edition of the tournament, this time with an expanded global field.

Still to be produced at FIBA's eSports Studio in Riga, Latvia, the second eSports Open will have an expanded field of 38 national teams spread across seven regional conferences across three weekends. This is compared to the first one that involved seventeen sides encompassing one weekend.

The competition will be played remotely in the Pro-Am mode of NBA 2K21 on the PS4, with teams consisting of five starters and two substitutes. Squads have full customization at their disposal for player avatars, uniforms, and arena designs. A champion in each conference will be crowned via a best-of-three final.

The conference breakdown goes as follows (first edition champions in italics):

November 14-15

Africa: Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon 

Middle East: Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia

Southeast Asia: Australia, Indonesia, Pilipinas

December 12-13

Europe: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

December 19-20

North and Central America: Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Puerto Rico, United States

South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela

FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis shares, "The first-ever FIBA Esports Open was an important milestone. The growing interest received from our National Federations is additional motivation for FIBA to further develop esports, and we are very enthusiastic for this second edition."

Fans who want to watch the FIBA eSports Open can do so through the federation's platforms on Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube. There will be 54 hours of live content available with English commentary, as well as a daily show that could feature up to twelve matches.

For the Philippines, the schedule of eGilas Pilipinas initially will be as follows:

November 14

530pm vs Indonesia

630pm vs Australia

7pm vs Indonesia

820pm vs Australia

November 15

530pm vs Indonesia

630pm Australia

NBA 2K League logo released

The NBA 2K League logo

The NBA continues to make inroads into eSports, as they unveiled the official NBA 2K League logo earlier this week.

The logo, which was crafted by Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based branding agency RARE Design. merges the colors and shape of the NBA logo with the font style of NBA 2K logo.

What stands out from the NBA 2K League logo to the NBA's is the absence of a human silhouette, which speaks to the league's inclusive nature, providing opportunities for any kind of player to try out, regardless of age, gender, or location.

Serving as the centerpiece of the logo is a basketball, representing the common thread bringing all NBA 2K players together.

The NBA 2K League will have 17 teams for its initial season, where they will draft gamers that would play as unique characters in 5-on-5 play. The league is a collaboration between the NBA and Take Two Interactive Software, the developer behind the

Tryouts are scheduled early next year, with the draft in March, and the season kicks off in May. Details can be seen on www.NBA2KLeague.com.


Here is how RARE Design crafted the logo:



Also, here are the logos of the seventeen teams participating in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K League:

Every NBA 2K League team logo