The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Esports League (CEL) launched its fourth season on February 21 and 22, 2026, at SM Seaside City Cebu. This season introduces a women's division as a demonstration sport while continuing to emphasize academic integrity and student involvement. The league features competitions in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Valorant among 10 participating schools.
The CESAFI Esports League, a student-centered competition promoting responsible gaming alongside academic discipline, began its fourth season at SM Seaside City Cebu. Established in 2001 as the premier inter-school sports league in Cebu, CESAFI incorporated esports in 2022 following a preseason tournament that yielded positive outcomes.
Ryan Balbuena, CEL tournament director and CESAFI executive director, recalled the origins: “When Tiukinhoy asked me to lead the CEL, I was thinking of what to do to bring together the schools and esports, and how to eliminate the negative stereotypes of esports.” The league debuted its regular season in December 2022, starting with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and adding Valorant in the second season.
To maintain academic standards, CEL requires players to pass all courses, schedules matches on weekends, and avoids tournaments during exam periods. Operated largely by student volunteers, it offers opportunities in esports production, graphic design, and event organization. Balbuena highlighted: “The league is not only a platform for student-athletes to test their skills but also a platform for student volunteers to develop their skills in esports production, including esports broadcasting and organizing esports events.”
Ten schools participate, including longstanding members like University of San Carlos (USC), University of Cebu (UC), and newcomers Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU). Institutions provide support through allowances, scholarships, and facilities; for instance, USC offers scholarships to its athletes.
Past winners include UCLM for the inaugural MLBB title, USJ-R for Valorant in season two, and USC as back-to-back MLBB champions in seasons two and three, with CIT-U taking Valorant in season three. Season four adds a women's division for evaluation, with matches at the opener and May grand finals.
The men's tournaments follow a three-stage format: group stage, play-ins, and playoffs, with specific series lengths for each game. Matches stream live on CEL’s Facebook page every weekend from February to May.
