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| In a rare time an MVP Group-owned franchise is considered an independent, Smart Omega Empress pulled off a shocker in Riyadh. Igor Bezbodorov/EWC (file photo) |
MANILA--For a corporate group that has three teams in the PBA and two in the PVL, all of them strong in their own rights, it is considered a rarity that a team backed by Manny Pangilinan is tagged as "independent" in another league.
However, this was the case for Smart Omega Empress when they joined the MLBB Women's Invitational during the Esports World Cup.
In the EWC context, a team is considered independent if it only has one roster in any esports title.
Due to the tie-up with bigger esports clubs, MLBB Midseason Cup contenders AP Bren and Echo are now considered members of Team Falcons and Team Liquid, respectively, and are no longer classified as independents.
For Smart Omega Empress, though, they were virtually on their own with no other support than what they had already been getting.
However, they showed heart, ruling the MWI and becoming the first Filipino club to win an EWC pennant.
The first Filipina club at that.
The quintet of Gwyneth Diagon, Kaye Alpuerto, Rica Amores, Sheen Perez, and Mery Vivero issued a statement to the bigger franchises, taking down two teams with major additional backing in the playoffs.
They first defeated Malaysian club HomeGals, which forged an alliance with recently crowned DOTA 2 Riyadh Masters champion Gaimin Gladiators, in the quarterfinals.
Smart Omega Empress then took down Counter Strike 2 powerhouse Team Vitality, which absorbed the former Bigetron Era roster lock, stock, and barrel, in the finals.
Just as the clock struck midnight here on Monday, word came from the Amazon Arena in Riyadh that Smart Omega Empress completed the 3-0 sweep against Team Vitality.
"Nakaka-proud kasi coming from an independent team and being a Filipino brand, it gives us such joy to represent the Philippines," said Froi Endaya, the chief marketing officer of the Smart Omega franchise.
Smart Omega Empress' feat came just a few weeks after Selangor FC sent its MLBB team to the MLBB Midseason Cup and won it all even if the quintet itself is also considered independent EWC-wise.
Just like the MVP Group, Selangor is a known domestic sports stronghold as its MLBB team is also the reigning MPL Malaysia champion, and its main squad, the football club itself, is a title contender in the Malaysia Super League.
Endaya is hopeful that Selangor and Smart Omega Empress' feat would entice esports fans to acknowledge clubs outside of the bigger names like Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, and GG.
"Hopefully, this gives recognition to other esports organizations, and syempre you give credit where credit's due," Endaya continued.
At least in the women's division, Smart Omega Empress should now be respected in the MLBB scene.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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