Sanford on SEA Games: ‘We Treated It Like Scrims’

SIBOL MLBB Men Cruise Through Day 1, Treat SEA Games Matches Like Scrims

After a flawless opening day at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Mobile Legends: Bang Bang men’s team, SIBOL, showed no signs of fatigue—only calm confidence.

SIBOL swept all four of its Day 1 opponents—Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, and Malaysia—asserting early dominance in a group widely regarded as one of the tournament’s toughest. Despite facing Southeast Asia’s most competitive MLBB regions, the Filipinos remained composed as they spoke to international media following their clean run.

Just Like Scrims

For Exp Laner Sanford Vinuya, the secret to their steady performance was mindset. Rather than letting the weight of national representation and regional rivalries creep in, the team approached the day as if it were business as usual.

“To be honest, hindi po (kami na-pressure) kasi iniisip lang namin na scrims ito. Para hindi na kami mapagod. Magaganda rin naman po ang mga nangyari at hindi po masyado nakakapagod, sakto lang.”

In other words, they broke no sweat.

The approach paid off. By framing official matches as high-level scrimmages, SIBOL managed to stay sharp without burning out. Their discipline in pacing, drafting, and execution was evident across all four victories, with the team rarely looking rattled even against traditional powerhouses.

Overpowered Grouping

The Philippines’ grouping with Indonesia and Malaysia immediately set the tone for a challenging campaign, as the three countries are considered Southeast Asia’s strongest regions in MLBB Esports. But Day 1 suggested that SIBOL is more than ready for the challenge.

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