MANILA - Unity League, a government-backed esports Mobile Legends: Bang Bang league, will have more than 100 teams competing for a P3.5 million prize pool. 

The tournament, organized by national esports association Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) and state government media PTV-4, will start with a regional phase in NCR on from April 20 to 21. 

READ: PH eyes training facility for esports players

In Metro Manila alone, 128 teams have already registered for the qualifier, PESO Project Manager Victor Cabuay said in the Philippine Sports Association Forum on Tuesday. 

“We will have the online phase, kasi 128 teams ang magbabakbakan. And yung walong matitira, magte-taping for the live studio setup courtesy of PTV-4,” Cabuay said.

Here are the schedules for the other regional qualifiers: 

• Northern Luzon (May 4-5 online, May 11-12 onsite) 

• Southern Luzon (May 18-19 online, May 25-26 onsite) 

• Visayas (June 1-2 online, June 8-9 onsite) 

• Mindanao (June 15-16online, June 22-23 onsite) 

The top two teams from each region are going to play in the grand finals set July 5-7.

Gamers aged 15 and above are allowed to participate in the amateur tournament, PESO Executive Director Marlon Marcelo said.

“OK na rin sa 15 (years old) kasi on the side, the responsibility is there,” said Marcelo, while adding the meet also serves as tryouts for possible inclusion to the national team, which accepts members 16 years old and above.

“As an NSA, one of the things that we wanted to do is to promote Esports responsibly kasi maraming bad connotations initially (ang Esports). And we wanted to remove that connotation.”

The PESO official noted that currently there are 43 million gamers in the Philippines, and that out of the figures, 55 percent are in the youth market.