STI joins industry giants in eSports venture

MANILA, Philippines — STI, one of the country’s largest networks of schools, has linked up with five top firms to develop world-class talents in e-gaming industry with the launch of eSports, a fast-rising form of competition using video games.

As one of the founding members of the Philippine National eSports League Association, STI aims to nurture young talents in the field of eSports through the creation of a healthy environment for promising gaming athletes.

“As eSports continues to grow and mature all over the world, we want to do our part as an academic institution to promote responsible gaming for the youth, especially the aspiring pro gamers,” said STI Education Services Group, Inc. executive committee chairman Eusebio Tanco.

The other firms that have initially signed up with STI to own team franchises in the tournament are PLDT/Smart Communications, Inc., TheNet.Com, HappyFeet eSports, BrenPro, and Cignal TV, Inc.  

The Nationals, the first ever eSports franchise model professional league in the country, will open shop next year.

Joining Tanco in the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the Cignal headquarters in Mandaluyong were top officials of the nation’s leading telecommunications, television and eSports companies.

The league starts with The Road to The Nationals, a series of open qualifier tournament games. It features three game titles: DOTA2 for PC, Mobile Legends for mobile, and NBA2K19 or Tekken 7 for console game. Eight teams from each game will be eligible for drafting and sponsorship by the pioneer teams.