“Actually, hindi naman siya boys’ tournament [Dota 2], pero ayun nga, puro lalaki. Parang tinetake namin ito as opportunity tapos experience para matuto lalo,” BREN Esports’ team captain Johanna “Ligaya” Sta. Maria said.

Joining Sta. Maria in the team are local Dota 2 veteran and former TNC Amazons carry Gillian “Gill” Lumberio, long-time BREN member Princess “Jaina” Pagsisihan, and newcomers Hazel “Hezelya” Mata and Kat “Katt” Arcillas.

The esports powerhouse brought in the core of its all-female Dota 2 squad that just won the Liga Adarna Dota 2 championship last September. They will compete in the first franchise-based esports scene in the Philippines.

Though having a forgettable kickoff in the tournament where BREN lost two consecutive matches against the top-ranked Laus Auto Group Playbook Esports and defending champions Cignal Ultra Warriors, resulting in lopsided affairs.

However, despite losing, team captain Ligaya believes that this just shows that every team in the league is not taking the only all-girl group lightly. “Kapag may nakakalaban po kami parang hindi po nila pinagtitripan.”

According to Sta. Maria, seeing the top two teams in the tournament go all-out against them is a sign of respect, for which they are thankful.

“‘Yung laro po nila is hindi lang basta-basta. Parang ginagawa pa rin nila ‘yung best nila so parang nandoon ‘yung patas pa rin ‘yung tingin kahit babae,” Ligaya said during an appearance in Tiebreaker Vodcasts’ Beyond The Meta, presented by SMART Sports.

While still in the middle of their The Nationals Season Two campaign, the BREN squad said that they will be turning these losses into opportunities to grow. They will also continue to serve as inspiration for the young female gamers aspiring to become professional gamers.

“Basta ang pinakatinatatak po namin ay experience po ito, saka parang way siya para matuto, lalo kasi ngayon lang po nabigyan ng opportunity ‘yung girls na sumali sa mga boys’ tournament,” said Ligaya.