United City FC Unveils Esports Division as ‘UCFC Esports’ United City FC to become the First Philippines Football Club entering Esports

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - United City Football Club (FC), the current four-time defending champion in the Philippine Football League (PFL) and slated to participate in the AFC Champions League 2021, unveils its esports division dubbed as "UCFC Esports." This initiative is a testament to UCFC's commitment to be the best of the best in Asia; whether it be on the football field or a professional gaming environment, ultimately, this expansion stays true to UCFC's mission of inspiring the next generation of fans and followers of professional sports.

"The global growth of esports has been tremendous, and we are fortunate that the Philippines' esports scene is growing rapidly, which paves a great path for us to take on this venture," said Eric Gottschalk, CEO at United City Football Club. Currently, there is an estimated 45 million games just in the Philippines, with some of the key titles having over 10 million followers and games participating in organized competitions. "We are very serious about expanding our horizons to a younger demographic, and we set out to replicate the sporting success of our football division, with our esports division to adhere to the same mission and values that the club has already established. We are further excited to bring professional gaming with us as part of our LGU partnership with Clark City and the Pampanga and Tarlac region – a sport that has seen tremendous growth, support, and interest by the local communities."

In their pursuit of excellence in developing champions, UCFC Esports has tapped the white label esports management services of BrenPro Inc, the corporation notable for owning and managing Bren Esports, one of the leading esports organizations in Southeast Asia.

"We tapped BrenPro's esports management services as we identified them to be the right partners for us to create and develop champions which will allow us to emulate our success in football," said Gottschalk. "Their values, mission, and vision for the development of the Esports community in the Philippines, in general, align very well with our ambitions as a sports organization, and we would like to thank the team of BrenPro for their support and commitment to helping us establishing a competitive esport division in such a short period of time."

BrenPro established Bren Esports in 2017; the organization immediately found success and has since then become a leading esports organization in the Philippines who is also known to have one of the biggest esports training facilities in Southeast Asia.

"Our formula for success is that we instill excellence in every step of the way, which enables us to groom and develop future esports champions," said Bernard Lu Chong, CEO at Bren Esports. "We are definitely committed and confident that we can guide and shape UCFC Esports to be a leading esports contender not just locally but globally."

For its entry into esports, UCFC Esports will focus on four esports titles, namely Valorant, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and FIFA 2021, which have been identified as relevant in the current local esports scene. The official roster for each esports title announcement will be made on UCFC Esports official Facebook page (facebook.com/ucfcesports), while a dedicated fan membership and a jersey design contest will be the first interactions with the new fan communities of UCFC.


ABOUT UCFC

United City Football Club (UCFC) is a registered Filipino Professional Football Club that aims to promote and build values such as equality, diversity, leadership through sports.

UCFC is a member of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the Philippines' professional level of men's club football. The Club is the 4x defending national champion in the PFL and the first Philippine team to compete in the AFC Champions League from 26 June to 11 July 2021.

As a mission, the Club stands to help re-invigorate young athletes, families, and the local community through discipline, hard work, and passion. Their ambition is to be the best of the best in Asia - be it on the football field, esports, or within the community - and provide a pathway ad equal opportunities for the next generation of young talent in their pursuit of sporting & educational excellence.

The Club recently announced its move to the Pampanga / Tarlac region, where it plans to set up its youth football academy in Clark City and to and build its football stadium while making use of the already existing stadium facilities in New Clark City in the meantime.

As part of the move, United City FC will be re-named to United Clark FC by the end of 2021, while its Esports division will simply be called UCFC Esports.

Gina Iniong Wants to Get Back and Make Another Run for the Title

It's been a year and a half now since Gina "Conviction" Iniong last stepped inside the ONE Circle.

Since then, a lot has happened in her life -- and that's not even counting the struggles brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic to everyone around the world.

Iniong, a gold medalist in kickboxing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games back in 2019, has seen a lot of things happen in her life. She first married her partner Richard Araos last year, and just two months later, gave birth to their first child, a baby daughter that gave her a new perspective in life.

"I concentrated on my family life. I got married and I had been blessed with a baby girl, so I have been dedicating my time taking good care of her," she said.

It's truly a life-changing experience for the 32-year-old, but despite the new shifts she currently faces, there's one thing that hasn't left her system: that itch to fight.

That's understandable given the tear she's had before the pandemic, where she won three of her last four fights.

Before her gold medal triumph in the SEA Games, Iniong earned a split decision win over "Shadowcat" Hayatun Jihin Radzuan of Malaysia at ONE: Clash of Legends in February 2019, before following it up with a superb unanimous decision victory over "Knockout Queen" Asha Roka of India at ONE: Fire & Fury in January 2020.

Her performance in those last two fights allowed her to move up to no. 5 in ONE's women's atomweight rankings before her inactivity bumped her off of the list.

That's why there's no denying the fire lit under Iniong as she seeks to get back to action soon, especially after seeing her stablemates in the famed Team Lakay Gym fight in recent fight cards.

However, she also knows that getting back to her old deadly shape takes time, embracing the process she needs to undergo under the watch of coach Mark Sangiao.

"I've been out for a while so I need some time to get back in fight form. As of now I'm taking it one day at a time. I want to be fully prepared when I come back," she said.

For now, though, she's happy to pick her spots and take her time to scout the competition, all the more with ONE Championship's women's atomweight division as deep and more competitive than ever.

Among the participants in the ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix include no. 1-ranked Denice "The Menace" Zamboanga of the Philippines, no. 2 Meng Bo of China, no. 3 Alyona Rassohyna of Ukraine, no. 4 Stamp Fairtex of Thailand, no. 5 "Arale Chan" Seo Hee Ham of Korea, as well as Itsuki "Strong Heart Fighter" Hirata of Japan and Alyse "Lil' Savage" Anderson of the United States.

"I'm excited to see all the best atomweights compete with each other. I'm also amazed at how the division has grown," Iniong said.

It's easy to feel envious knowing the caliber of competition Iniong is missing out for not being a part of the ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix. But it also serves as a fuel for her knowing fully that anyone of those women could be her next foe once she marks her comeback.

"I don't really have anyone in particular that I have my eye on, but of course, I want to stay ready for anyone that will be put against me," she said.

And it also includes reigning ONE Women's Atomweight World Champion "Unstoppable" Angela Lee of Singapore, who herself is currently dealing with her own pregnancy.

Having these prospects in mind only serves as motivation for Iniong to continue working on her craft while also juggling her role as a mother.

Nonetheless, there's only one thing Iniong wants to accomplish when she finally steps back into the spotlight.

"I am a better Gina Iniong. I am now focusing on being more mentally tough and getting back in fight shape and condition," she said, ever grateful for the support Team Lakay has given her.

"The team has been there for me ever since. We are a family and even during my pregnancy and motherhood, coach Mark and the team never stopped supporting me. They are always one call or a message away and that inspires me to continue fighting and performing for our team."

Scan and Donate to Different Charity Organizations via ShopeePay

MANILA, JUNE 25, 2021 -  ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, partners with more than 30 foundations to offer users an easier, safer, and more convenient way to donate to their beneficiaries of choice. Over the last three months, there was a steady increase in foundations adopting digital payment options like ShopeePay. These newly onboarded foundations are AHA Learning, Animal Kingdom, For Our Farmers, Green Space, Hope, LovedVolunteers, Silid Aralam, Save Philippine Seas, TV Maria, and Waves for Water.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “As an e-commerce platform that is close to the community, we are happy to partner with these charity organizations to make donating more convenient and safe. We want to make ShopeePay more than just a platform for online purchases and bills payments, but also a channel that helps facilitate donations for the underprivileged. As more Filipinos start to adopt digital payments in their daily lives, ShopeePay will continue to enhance its products and services further to support businesses, foundations, and the local community.”

ShopeePay offers not only a safe and contactless payment method, but also a convenient way to transfer and withdraw funds, buy load, top-up your e-wallet, pay utility and telecom bills, and donate to foundations. 

There are two ways to donate via ShopeePay:

1. Scan the QR Code 

1. Go to the ShopeePay homepage and select “Scan.”

2. Scan the organization’s QR code found either on the microsite (https://shopee.ph/m/scan-to-pay) or on the organization’s social media page or website

3. Input the donation amount. Users can also use their Shopee coins to offset the amount.

4. Enter your 6-digit ShopeePay pin

5. Receive confirmation of your donation

2. Take a screenshot and upload the QR code

1. Go to the ShopeePay homepage and select “Scan.”

2. Select the image icon found on the top right side of the screen

3. Select the image of the organization’s QR code from your phone’s gallery

4. Input the donation amount. Users can also use their Shopee coins to offset the amount.

5. Enter your 6-digit ShopeePay pin

6. Receive confirmation of your donation

For as low as ₱1, your donation can go a long way. Here are the foundations you can give back to via ShopeePay: 2KK Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid Foundation, AHA Learning, Animal Kingdom Foundation, Caritas Manila, CRIBS Foundation, For Our Farmers PH, FundLife, Gawad Kalinga, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Good Neighbors, Green Space PH, Habitat for Humanity, Hope, Kaya Natin Movement, Kythe, LovedVolunteers, Project Pearls, Red Cross Philippines, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Save Philippine Seas, Save The Children, Silid Aralan, SOS Philippines, Teach for the PH, TV Maria, UNICEF, Virlanie Foundation, Waves for Water PH, World Vision, and Young Focus.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

About ShopeePay

ShopeePay is an integrated mobile wallet that offers users easy access to digital payment services. Launched in the Philippines in 2019, ShopeePay enables a seamless shopping experience by allowing users to make online payments on Shopee, top-up their wallets, and transfer and withdraw funds.

ShopeePay makes it easier to shop and do business. It provides users with a convenient, secure, and rewarding payment option; it empowers businesses and helps them capture new opportunities. 

ShopeePay is part of SeaMoney, the digital financial services arm of Sea Group. A leading digital payments and financial services provider in Southeast Asia, SeaMoney’s mission is to better the lives of individuals and businesses in the region with financial services through technology.