PBA Esports Bakbakan explained

PBA Esports Bakbakan
Sport:Esports
Game:

StreetBallers
Established:2023
Location:Philippines
Number:1
Participants:MLBB/PUBG: 12
StreetBallers: 8
Administrator:Philippine Basketball Association
Dark League Studios
Current Champion:TNT Tropang Giga
Current:PBA Esports Bakbakan: PUBG: Battlegrounds

PBA Esports Bakbakan is an esports league in the Philippines. It is organized by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in partnership with Dark League Studios. The league consists of the esport squads of the PBA's twelve franchise teams. The first tournament featured while the following competition had .

The third tournament which had StreetBallers featured eight teams from outside the PBA.

History

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has planned to organize esports games in-between its league games during its 46th season in 2021. However the COVID-19 pandemic caused such plan to be placed on hold. In 2022, the PBA revisited its plans to get involved in esports and accepted an invitation by Dark League Studios to check their Kings League tournament.[1] The PBA would enter in an entered a formal partnership with Dark League Studios in October 2022.[2]

The PBA would launch an esports league, the PBA Esports Bakbakan, in January 2023. The tournament would be held in partnership with Dark League Studios.[3] The inaugural season would feature the PBA's twelve franchise team with as the video game title featured.[4] The draft for the first tournament was held on February 13, 2023.[5] The TNT Tropang Giga became the inaugural champions.[6]

In September 2023, the PBA organized a tournament with the 12 franchise teams.[7] Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won the tournament.[8]

Within the same month, the PBA launched the StreetBallers tournament. The final tournament had eight teams which qualified from 20 teams across the country.[9] [10] StreetBallers is a mobile game developed by PlayPark.[11]

Teams

The twelve PBA franchise teams (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG: Battlegrounds)
TeamCompanyColors
Barangay Ginebra San MiguelGinebra San Miguel, Inc.
Blackwater BossingEver Bilena Cosmetics, Inc.
Converge FiberXersConverge ICT Solutions, Inc.
Magnolia HotshotsSan Miguel Food and Beverage
Meralco BoltsManila Electric Company
NLEX Road WarriorsNLEX Corporation
NorthPort Batang PierSultan 900 Capital, Inc.
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel MastersPhoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.
Rain or Shine Elasto PaintersAsian Coatings Philippines, Inc.
San Miguel BeermenSan Miguel Brewery, Inc.
Terrafirma DyipTerrafirma Realty Development Corporation
TNT Tropang GigaSmart Communications
StreetBallers[10]

Seasons

Season!rowspan=2
TitleFinal
ChampionScoreRunner-up
2023TNT Tropang Gigaalign=center 3–0Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Barangay Ginebra San Miguelalign=center Round robinBlackwater Bossing
Dota 2

Notes and References

  1. News: PBA once planned to have esports in between games: Marcial . 14 February 2023 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 30 August 2022 . en.
  2. News: Mangubat . Lio . Esports org Dark League Studios inks formal partnership with PBA . 14 February 2023 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 20 October 2022 . en.
  3. News: Dalupang . Denison Rey . PBA launches esports tournament . 14 February 2023 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 25 January 2023 . en.
  4. News: PBA Esports Bakbakan logs in . 14 February 2023 . The Philippine Star . 26 January 2023.
  5. News: Ginebra selects Dogie as No.1 overall pick in PBA Esports draft . 14 February 2023 . Manila Bulletin . 14 February 2023.
  6. News: Pineda . Juan Carlos . TNT esports team mirrors Tropang Giga success, beats Ginebra in finale . 17 September 2023 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 1 May 2023 . en.
  7. News: PBA Esports sets up franchised tournament for PUBG . 17 September 2023 . ABS-CBN News . 5 September 2023.
  8. News: Yatco . Rob . Barangay Ginebra San Miguel wins PUBG Mobile Tournament . 17 September 2023 . UnGeek . 11 September 2023.
  9. News: Ulanday . John Bryan . PBA launches Esports 'Bakbakan' . 17 September 2023 . The Philippine Star . 17 September 2023.
  10. News: Ulanday . John Bryan . PBA launches 'StreetBallers' esports tilt . 17 September 2023 . The Philippine Star . 16 September 2023.
  11. News: Mobile game StreetBallers aspires to enhance our love for street basketball . 17 September 2023 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 30 April 2022 . en.