The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) have set foot in another gaming industry as they inked a partnership with esports organizer Dark League Studios for the birth of &ldquo;PBA Esports Bakbakan."
The 12 PBA teams will participate in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) competition. Each team is required to have an 8-player line-up composed of two PBA players, two influencers or former professional players, three fans, and one student.
Using a basketball-style draft, the selection of players will start on February 13.
Esports Bakbakan is set to kick off in March and will have a prize of P1,000,000.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the collaboration will benefit both industries.
"We in the PBA are extremely proud and grateful for this partnership with Dark League. With the history of the PBA sports entertainment, combined with the D-League, [as well as the] growing influence of modern technology, I think it&rsquo;s a win-win situation for both parties in the PBA and D.League," the commissioner said.
Esports Bakbakan breaks the gap between the two worlds of gaming, setting a milestone for Filipinos.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an eye-opener for all the Filipinos. For the longest time, there&rsquo;s really been a separation between the community of traditional sports and Esports. We do it not just to bridge the gap but to create aspirations for the next generation,&rdquo; said Dark League Studios CEO AC Valdenor.
Teams will be Barangay Ginebra, Talk &lsquo;N Text, San Miguel, Meralco, NLEX, Magnolia, Rain or Shine, Phoenix Super LPG, Terrafirma, Blackwater, Northport and Converge.
Gamer influencers Eric 'Eruption' Tai, Setsuna 'Akosi Dogie' Ignacio, and Raven 'L3bron' Alonzo were also expected to participate in the MLBB competition.

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PBA, Dark League team up for 'Esports Bakbakan'