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| The chosen ones picked by 12 PBA teams in the league's historic first ever eSports Bakbakan Draft (Image Source: Philippine Basketball Association) |
One of the Philippines' most popular gamers is taking his act to the most popular basketball team in the land. Akosi Dogie went down in history as the first ever top overall pick in the inaugural PBA eSports Bakbakan Draft held last February 13, 2023 at Robinsons Place Manila. Barangay Ginebra made it possible the moment the draft ordered was revealed, tapping the well-known vlogger and tech enthusiast Naser Ignacio Mollazehi in real life with the no. 1 selection during the proceedings. "With our first draft pick, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel picks Akosi Dogie," big man Christian Standhardinger announced to get the drafting going. Akosi Dogie was later joined on stage by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and presented his customary Ginebra jacket by team governor Alfrancis Chua, manager Rayboy Rodriguez, and Standhardinger.
TNT also didn't lose time taking its turn in the podium as it picked Billy 'Z4pnu' Alfonso at no. 2 while Eric 'Eruption' Tai ended up at no. 3 with the Magnolia Hotshots. Meanwhile, pretty influencer Lhea Bernardinho was the first female player to be drafted in the PBA eSports history at no. 4 with Terrafirma Dyip followed by Edgar 'ChooxTV' Dumali at fifth with Blackwater. Other first round picks in the draft were Renz 'Pein' Reyes at no. 6 with NLEX, Honda Beast at seventh with Phoenix, Yuri Gaming with NorthPort at eighth, Mico 'Coco' Sampang with Meralco at ninth, Okata at 10th for Rain or Shine, Converge got the ever popular L3bron at no. 11, and Elyson 'Ghost Wrecker' Caranza at no. 12 for San Miguel. Team governors led by vice chairman Bobby Rosales of Terrafirma, officials, and players joined Marcial in welcoming the draft aspirants during the three-hour program which was also attended by Dark League Studios CEO AC Valdenor and program director Mark Chua. In his short speech, Marcial said, "PBA at eSports, dalawang magkaibang liga, dalawang magkaibang sports. Parehong layunin, mapasikat, mapalakas, at mapagsama ang dalawang sports na ito. Kasama ng PBA eSports ang Dark League Studios, makasaysayan ang gagawin nating ito na magsanib puwersa ang dalawang sports - basketball at eSports. Kaya magsama-sama tayo at magtulung-tulong."
Influencers picked in the second round were Sainty (Ginebra), King Jasro (TNT), Mage Dad Yuji (Magnolia), Chin Valdez (Terrafirma), Coach Tres (Blackwater), Elanorm (NLEX), Kimberlee Si Arcillas (Phoenix), Thirdy Gaming (NorthPort), Onefifti (Meralco), Wagner Gaming (Rain or Shine), Totoy (Converge), and Hypebits (San Miguel). Members of the academe selected in the third round were Aaron Pascual of PUP (Barangay Ginebra), the UST duo of Nathaniel Teodoro (TNT), and Marius Miguel Pedrealba (Terrafirma), Ateneo's Eugene Dela Cruz (Blackwater) and Sean Jacob See (Rain or Shine), Joseph Brylle Geronimo (Magnolia), David Lawrrenz Sanejo (NLEX), and Kin Calvin Martinez (Converge) all of University of the Philippines, Adamson's Jayvee Buenviaje (Meralco) and Cristian Rio Pingkian (San Miguel), Christian Alec San Diego of Letran (Phoenix), and Christian Antonio Dreyfus of La Salle (NorthPort). Fans, meanwhile, comprised those picked in the fourth round, namely:
• Barangay Ginebra (Anton Cabrilles, Lance Aaron Misa, and Gellert Pangilinan)
• TNT (Aaren Palomo, Reginald Agustin, and Bryan Bollas)
• Magnolia (Christian Aaron Endonilla, Ronel Garcia, and Aaron Transmontero)
• Terrafirma (Jason Ubalde, Prince Zeus Destacamento, Alex Vitaliano)
• Blackwater (Brent Louis Castandiello, Joshua Ocampo, Allen Hanz Cacas)
• NLEX (Ryan Nazir Coronel, Prince Tesorero, John Albert Guevarra)
• Phoenix (RJ Acbayan, Charles Justin Taruc, Joshua Mikhail Cruz)
• NorthPort (Vince Remjohn Batarlo, Mike Gonzales, Lawrence Pingol)
• Meralco (Benjie Sarcia, Jayson Caratao, Ric Cainhog Jr.)
• Rain or Shine (Jieo Capatan, John Carlo Coronado, Soviet Raven Saludes)
• Converge (Amanda Del Mar, Jonmark Tria, Sid Sanchez)
• San Miguel (Noli John Macasa, Omar Miguel Roldan, Sean Tyrone Aman)
All 12 teams can begin practicing for Season 1 which kicks off this coming March. Meanwhile, those who were not drafted are already assured of being selected in Season 2 of the meet.
Through its monumental partnership with Dark League Studios, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)'s foray into the growing and evolving world of professional gaming seeks to 'merge' two of the most popular sporting genres in the Philippines through various generations while, at the same time, promoting responsible eSports in the country. PBA eSports Bakbakan's inaugural season will see 12 teams playing in a single round robin format, with the Top 4 advancing in a best-of-five playoffs slated to be held at either the Mall of Asia Arena or the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Games will be played every Monday for five weeks and are going to be livestreamed in the league's official accounts. A prize money of Php1 million is at stake with the champion team receiving Php750,000.
