Smart Omega Esports, formerly known as PLDT–Smart Omega, is a Philippine franchise-based professional esports team which competes in The Nationals, the top esports league in the Philippines sanctioned by the eSports National Association of the Philippines, and MPL Philippines. It was formed as a result of a partnership between esports team Sterling Global Dragons and corporate firms, PLDT Inc. and its mobile arm, Smart Communications.
 | |
| Nicknames | Omega Esports |
|---|---|
| Games | |
| Founded | February 2019 |
| League | The Nationals MPL Philippines |
| Team history | PLDT–Smart Omega (2019–current) |
| Colors | Green, Blue |
| Head coach | Pakbet and Ynot (Omega Eports ML), Carlo "Kuku" Palad (DOTA 2), Dannel "Pica" Lozano (Tekken 7) and John “Glaceox” (Wild Rift) |
| Parent group | PLDT Inc./Smart Communications Sterling Global Dragons |
| Website | smart |
History edit
Omega was officially launched by PLDT Inc. and its mobile arm, Smart Communications in February 2019. It is a collaboration of the private firms with Sterling Global Dragons[1] which competed in the Road to The Nationals, a tournament held by the Nationals league organizers in 2018 in order to provide a means for the pioneer teams of the league to scout players for their rosters.
The Sterling Global Dragons was the winner of the final Dota 2 tournament of the Road to The Nationals. They secured a 3–1 victory over Station 751 in the championship match of the final tournament which adopted a best-of-five series format.[2] The Dragons qualified for the final tournament of the Road to The Nationals twice. Initially they qualified through the tournament held in Manila. However, due to a roster change they had to forfeit their qualification spot to So Lucky team and qualified again for the final competition through the Cavite qualifiers.[3]
In 2020, the name of the team was changed to just "Smart Omega Esports".
In November 2020, Filipino pro player Carlo "Kuku" Palad signed as the team's new Dota 2 head coach.[4]
Rosters edit
The following consists of the rosters of Omega for the 2019 The Nationals season.
Dota 2 edit
pos 1 : Ancelmo Miracle San Jose
Coach: Kuku Carlo Palad(JL`)
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer[1]
Mobile Legends edit
Current roster edit
| Smart Omega Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Anthony "YnoT" Senedrin
Lemuel Josh "COACH LEMBOT" Lucban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
|
Latest roster transaction: 16 February 2024. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Also, it has a female roster called Smart Omega Empresses
- Amore (Rica Amores)
- Fibii (Phoebe Taburnal)
- Meraaay (Mery Vivero)
- Keishi (Kaye Alpuerto)
- Shinoaaa (Sheen Perez)
Coach: Jeoffryl Hans Bilonoac
Tekken 7 edit
- Juliano Lozano (Jules)
Coach: Dannel Lozano (Pica)
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer[1]
Call Of Duty: Mobile edit
Current roster edit
| Smart Omega Call of Duty: Mobile roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bruce "Dev1ce" Cruz
Jericho | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
|
Latest roster transaction: 28 June 2022[7]. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Controversies edit
Smart Omega's member of their new roster for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines (MPL PH) Season 8 Duane “Kelra” Pillas made homophobic remarks towards his co-professional player Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna in a now deleted livestream. Kelra was suspended for 2 weeks due to his violations on MPL PH Season 8 rules specifically 12.3.3 Sexual Harassment and 12.3.4 Discrimination and Denigration as announced on MPL PH's official Facebook page on August 16, 2021.[8][9][10][11][12] Kelra was also alleged to have sexually harassed another pro-player Chareeny “Ramella” Ramella of Thai MLBB professional team IDNS. Ramella mentioned that they haven't received an apology in a report as of August 17, 2021.[13]
Smart Omega is officially banned in any Valve sponsored events after the match fixing happens last November, this includes current players Prince Daculan and Ryniel Keit "Zenki" Calvez, as well as previous players Patt Piolo "Piolz" Dela Cruz, Dave "Hiro" Miyata, and now-Execration player Van Jerico Manalaysay. Chris Ian "CTY" Francis Maldo, an Omega coach, is also on the list.[14]
References edit
- ^ a b c "PLDT, Smart launch pro gaming team 'Omega' for country's first franchise-based esports league". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Sterling Global Dragons are Your Road to The NAtionals 2018 (DOTA 2) Champions". Mogul Arena. SEA Esports PTE LTD. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ "Final competitors qualify for Road to The Nationals grand finals". ESPN. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "Kuku signs with Smart Omega as its Dota 2 coach". ONE Esports. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ Rossel, John Dave (11 January 2022). "Omega Esports Completes MPL PH Season 9 Roster With Two New Players". AFK Gaming. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Vistek. "SMART OMEGA - Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines". MPL Philippines Season 9. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ "KURV joins Smart Omega - CODM roster". Smart Omega Official Facebook page. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ Elona, Jules (August 17, 2021). "MPL PH suspends Smart Omega's Kelra for inappropriate behavior | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ News, Angela Coloma, ABS-CBN (2021-08-16). "Esports: Kelra suspended, fined over offensive remarks". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Dioquino, Delfin (August 16, 2021). "'Mobile Legends' player Kelra suspended, fined for sexual, homophobic remarks". Rappler. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Lojo, Michelle (August 17, 2021). "Smart Omega's Kelra suspended for homophobic, sexual remarks". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Pineda, Carlos. "MPL-PH hits Kelra with 2-week suspension for discrimination, sexual harassment". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Pineda, Carlos. "Ramella, IDNS speak out on controversial video: 'Sexual harassment is not ok'". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Grande, Ralph. "Omega Esports found guilty of match-fixing, banned from all Valve events". esports.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2021-12-07.