It took a while but we finally got that championship-winning formula right.
For eGilas, their triumph at the eFIBA World Finals was years in the making and one born from the right team coming together at the right time. The national team has been competing in eFIBA since its launch four years ago. They’ve come close to a podium finish multiple times but it was this year where they finally broke through their glass ceiling.
“We’ve actually been traveling overseas to compete since 2023,” said Prich “DonP” Diaz to The GAME. At 24 years old, he’s been part of eGilas from the very start.
“For eFIBA Season 2 we went to Sweden and finished fourth. Season 3, the Philippines was the host and it was held in Pampanga. We also finished in fourth place but we’ve been trying to get the gold for three years.”
NBA 2K has been the basketball-sim game of choice for eFIBA and every year they release a new version with updated rosters and new mechanics. It makes staying competitive quite difficult as teams always have to prepare themselves for what the next edition brings.
“It makes a big difference so we have to adapt ng mabilis,” said Kenneth “Clue-” Gutierrez, a third-year member who distinguished himself by winning Defensive Player of the Year.
“eFIBA starts mga two months after na-release ‘yung game so kailangan maka-adapt kami kaagad. Siguro ‘yung biggest factor is kaming lima palagi may training and dahil doon, kami ‘yung pinakamabilis maka-adapt sa game. Na-build din ‘yung chemistry namin so ‘yun ‘yung bakit naka-9-1 kami sa World Finals.”
That chemistry was ultimately the X-factor that allowed eGilas to soar this year. The players are skilled, of course, but a team doesn’t succeed off of skill alone. A team can only rise if they’re united and eGilas was definitely moving as one this year.
“On and off the court, grabe talaga yung chemistry na build namin sa isa’t-isa,” said 19 year old whiz-kid Miguel Hubillar. He had the honor of being crowned the World Finals MVP but he knows he couldn’t have done it without his team.
“When it comes to in-game matters, we’re all very open sa constructive criticism. Open kami sa kahit anong advice to become better, pointing out ‘yung mga mistakes namin and how to make it better. Everyone was really locked in – lahat namin gusto manalo. That’s why naging dominating kami against other teams across the world.”
“I would say their grit and resilience is what brought us the championship,” said Ian Serranilla, eGilas Team Manager. “We have a pool of players every year where we get the best of the best within the country. The key factor was not just their technical skills but their chemistry and character as a team.”
‘Their personalities really complemented each other, kaya maganda yung turn out. From the very beginning, we knew that this could be the team that could win it all.”
It’s truly a historic achievement, not just for eGilas but Philippine esports as a whole. This squad shined bright and we hope they can come together again to defend our trophy next season.
Images from Laus Group Esports on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, eGilas won its first eFIBA World Championship at the World Finals in Qatar, finishing with a 9-1 record. The win came after previous fourth-place finishes in Season 2 (Sweden) and Season 3 (Pampanga, Philippines), where the team had hosted but fell short of the podium.
Miguel Hubillar was named MVP of the eFIBA World Finals. The 19-year-old credited the team’s chemistry and openness to constructive criticism as key factors behind eGilas’ dominant run through the tournament.
Kenneth “Clue-” Gutierrez, a third-year eGilas member, won Defensive Player of the Year at the eFIBA World Finals. He noted the team’s ability to adapt quickly to each year’s new NBA 2K roster and mechanics update as a major factor in their success.
eGilas has competed in eFIBA since the tournament launched in 2023, according to founding member Prich “DonP” Diaz. The team traveled overseas for Season 2 in Sweden and hosted Season 3 in Pampanga, Philippines, finishing fourth both times before winning the title in the following season.
Gilas Team Manager Ian Serranilla said the team’s grit, resilience, and chemistry — not just individual technical skill — were the deciding factors in their championship run. He said the team’s complementary personalities made clear early on that this squad had championship potential.
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