MANILA — Ilonggo esports standout John “Danii” Bulanadi powered BOOM Esports to the Philippine Kings League (PKL) Fall 2026 championship, earning Finals Most Valuable Player honors after a commanding 4-1 victory over JGame Esports in the best-of-seven Grand Finals.
Bulanadi delivered consistent performances throughout the championship series, helping BOOM Esports secure the title, the championship trophy and US$11,000 in prize money.
The triumph capped BOOM’s campaign against a 10-team field in the tournament, which began August 27 and featured a regular season, play-ins and playoffs for a share of the US$60,000 prize pool.
Beyond his championship and individual accolade, Bulanadi hopes his breakthrough will inspire aspiring esports players in Iloilo and across the Visayas to pursue competitive gaming.
“I want to motivate my fellow Ilonggos and people from Iloilo, that you can do it, just don’t give up,” Bulanadi said in a post-tournament interview.
The Finals MVP believes Iloilo has an abundance of undiscovered esports talent capable of competing on the national stage.
“Actually, it’s not just me, because I always expect that, what I always say to those who are learning, there are a lot of strong people in Iloilo, who haven’t been discovered yet,” he said.
“I hope that this is the beginning, so that the Ilonggos can be recognized.”
Bulanadi urged greater support for regional esports development, particularly through tournaments and other competitive platforms that would give emerging players opportunities to showcase their skills.
“Maybe, they should be given more opportunities, like tournaments, or anything that they can do,” he said.
Drawing from his own experience, Bulanadi emphasized that competitive exposure is crucial in developing players capable of breaking into the country’s professional esports scene.
He also expressed confidence that more Visayan players and teams would eventually gain recognition in major competitions.
“I am very confident that there is a team, a player team in Visayas, who will shine,” he said.
Fresh from their PKL championship, Bulanadi and BOOM Esports will represent the Philippines at the Honor of Kings Nation Clash 2026 against some of the region’s top esports teams.
For Bulanadi, the upcoming international competition offers another opportunity to prove that Ilonggo talent belongs among the best in competitive esports./PN
