20-11-2023 (MANILA) Four Filipino teams faced disappointment as they fell short of clinching the NBA 2K League Asia-Pacific Invitational championship. The tournament presented a golden opportunity for teams to become eligible for the 2024 NBA 2K League draft, slated for January next year.
Eight teams hailing from Australia, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines engaged in two days of fierce NBA 2K League competition at the High Grounds Cafe in Quezon City.
The initial day witnessed surprising upsets, with the Laus Group Eagles, comprising members of the eGilas team, being defeated by fellow Filipino squad NAOS Esports. In another unexpected outcome, the LGE 45ers from the Philippines stunned the Australian group, No Way Out.
However, on Sunday, while the Australian team was relaxing at the Mall of Asia in Pasay, an unfortunate health and safety concern arose. As a result, the other semifinalist, Aegis Indonesia Patriots, had to return to Quezon City urgently, granting No Way Out an additional opportunity to contend for the title against the LGE 45ers.
Seizing the chance for redemption, the Australian team avenged their earlier loss against the Filipino squad, securing their place in the finals. Meanwhile, NAOS Esports made a comeback after facing a 21-point deficit in Game 1 against China’s Trapper, forcing overtime and emerging victorious. Trapper, however, rebounded in Game 2 with a 20-point lead. Nevertheless, NAOS Esports displayed resilience in Game 3, securing the final spot in the finals.
The finals encountered multiple technical issues, including overheating PlayStation 5 units and game resets. Despite the challenges, No Way Out, having received a second chance in the tournament, dominated with a barrage of 3-pointers in Game 1, establishing an insurmountable lead that proved too much for NAOS Esports to overcome. In Game 2, despite facing a four-point handicap in the first quarter, No Way Out surpassed the Filipinos’ narrow lead, sealing their victory and securing eligibility for the 2024 NBA 2K League draft.
Although falling short of the championship, the players of NAOS Esports cherished the opportunity to compete at the regional level. They pledged to continue honing their skills, aspiring to earn a spot in the NBA 2K League in the future.
“Despite falling short in this tournament, we are still incredibly grateful because we never expected to be here and to make it to the finals. We consider this a privilege. We feel blessed to be here and to have been invited. The experience is truly a core memory. Just seven months ago, I was just a casual gamer, and now I’m on this stage. It’s a huge leap, something I never expected in my life,” expressed Juan “SpamGod” Dela Pena of NAOS Esports.
The NBA 2K League Asia-Pacific Invitational marked the first-ever NBA 2K League event held in Manila. Lindsey Ullman, the league’s Head of Business Development, emphasized that the weekend’s proceedings were merely the beginning.
“This [Invitational] is a really good starting point. We are planning to come back next year,” stated Ullman,
