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| (Image Source: Ungeek.ph/Mineski Philippines) |
Mineski Philippines officially opened the Youth eSports Program (YEP) regional qualifiers for the National Intercollegiate Cyber League (NICL) where players are set to compete in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) for the league's third leg. One of the most popular mobile games in the Philippines with over 100 million registered users and 25 million active monthly users, MLBB has been used as an alterative to traditional physical education (PE) classes in various schools, colleges and universities.
Through the Youth eSports Program (YEP) initiative as well as their scope and industry influence, Mineski Philippines and the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) are committed to promote responsible gaming and co-curricular eSports to schools, colleges and universities across the country with the National Intercollegiate Cyber League (NICL), the first collegiate eSports league in the country to feature first-person shooter (FPS) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games for both PCs and mobile devices, as their crown jewel. Through similar grassroots activities and strategic brand partnerships, YEP aspires to create a community for eSports enthusiasts and help its youth members find success in gaming whether as a recreational hobby or as a legitimate career path. The program is also a firm believer in inclusivity and balance, offering a structured safe space for gamers that is both competitive and fun.
Currently, YEP has 80 chapters and partner schools and secured sponsorship deals with several international brands such as OPPO which becomes the official smartphone brand of both the YEP and NICL after recognizing the popularity of gaming among the youth and committing its support to help move the local professional gaming industry forward. “As gaming continues to grow in scale and popularity among our youth, it has become more vital for us to create safe spaces where students learn how to play responsibly and respectfully, understanding the many benefits that esports has to offer them. Gaming, after all, is part of a fun and balanced life. We at Mineski, through our grassroots programs, are committed to creating an inclusive esports environment that upholds the highest of standards and ensures all gamers get a fair and safe experience,” shared YEP Program Director Marlon Marcelo. “We greatly value how the youth today appreciate smartphone innovations that are relevant to the esports and gaming industry. Through the partnership with Mineski Philippines’ Youth eSports Program, we can together educate the youth on the growing community and demand for esports and gaming in the country. With OPPO’s latest and affordable smartphone products with premium quality features, it is easier now for Filipino mobile gamers to learn and be part of this growing industry” said OPPO Philippines Marketing Director Raymond Xia.
Registration for YEP-NICL MLBB Qualifiers is open to senior high school and college students aged 16-22 years old. Teams based in the National Capital Region (NCR) must register and sign up on or before April 11, 2021 (Sunday) while squads based in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao may do so on or before April 16, 2021 (Friday). Games will run from April 13 to May 7 with a prize pool of up to Php150,000 at stake. For more details on the NICL and how to register, visit YEP's official Facebook page. Any individual or organization interested in nominating their school to be part of the YEP or partnership opportunities may inquire via e-mail at yep@mineski.net. For more information about Mineski and the Youth eSports Program, visit www.mineskiglobal.com.
