FILIPINO E-SPORTS LEGENDS VISIT PHILIPPINE EMBASSY

Kuala Lumpur, 12 March 2025 – Filipino E-Sports Legends Michael Angelo “Arcadia” Bocado, Mark “Kramm” Rusiana, and John “Innocent” Banal, who are currently part of the Selangor Red Giants (SRG) E-Sports Team, paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy on 11 March 2025. The courtesy call highlighted the achievements of Filipino athletes who have made their mark in the international e-sports scene.

Ambassador Maria Angela A. Ponce conveyed her admiration for their dedication and talent and thanked them for contributing to the team’s success. She noted that e-sports has become a dynamic and rapidly growing industry, and it was inspiring to see Filipino athletes excel on the international stage.

The Selangor Red Giants, which is the e-sports division of the Selangor Football Club, currently consists of six active players, including two Filipinos and four Malaysians. Arcadia is the coach of the team and Kramm and Innocent are active players.

Coach Arcadia shared his insights on leading an international team and his journey into the e-sports industry. Kramm and Innocent also discussed their experiences playing for a Malaysian team and competing in various tournaments.

The courtesy call underscores the Embassy’s commitment to supporting Filipino talents and recognizing their contributions to various industries, including e-sports.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) launched the first inter-division 'Mobile Legends Bang Bang Tournament' under its 2021 Health and Wellness Project. The tournament, which was approved by then Undersecretary for Administration Eduardo Malaya, aimed to promote camaraderie and wellness among DFA personnel during the pandemic.

The tournament was inspired by the growing popularity of Mobile Legends in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, which is considered one of the top-playing countries of the game. Moonton, the developer of Mobile Legends, continues to support Filipino players by organizing more tournaments and offline events.

The Selangor Red Giants continues to gain recognition for its performance in regional and international e-sports tournaments.