33rd SEA Games MLBB Men’s: Group Stage Recap

The 33rd SEA Games MLBB Men’s Tournament showcased national pride as ten Southeast Asian nations battled it out in the group stage on December 13, 2025. With fierce competition across two groups and the knockout rounds just right around the corner, fans were treated to standout performances, surprising results, and emerging stars.

Across the Sala Phra Kieo venue at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, teams faced off in a single round-robin group stage where every matchup was a Best-of-Two (Bo2) series. Some of the matches were held off stream to accommodate the tight schedule for all of the events for the 33rd SEA Games.

Cambodia’s Absence and Regional Context

The Cambodian delegation officially withdrew from competition citing regional border tensions and safety issues, leading several sports, including some group allocations, to adjust accordingly. This unexpected context added a layer of complexity to the SEA Games overall, and while the MLBB tournament pressed on with its full lineup, the specter of these developments was felt across the broader event.

Group A: Myanmar Reigns, New Regions Advance to the Next Stage

Group A quickly became one of the most intriguing pools of the day with Cambodia’s last minute back out of the competition. In a group that saw their absence from the competition, teams took advantage of the open battle for top placement, given no top region was present in their group.

Myanmar emerged as the surprise powerhouse in Group A, finishing with a clean 3-0-0 record and the top seed with 6 points, a strong demonstration of early tournament prowess. Behind them was Vietnam, whose calculated drafts and mid-game adaptability earned them 4 points off a 2-0-1 record, securing second place and a knockout spot. The home country representative Thailand, surprisingly delivered its fair share of impact in the group. Their 1-0-2 performance, good for 2 points, was enough for them to advance to the knockout stage to face against the top 3 contenders in Group B.

Timor-Leste had a tough day, ending 0-0-3 with 0 points, being the only team eliminated in Group A. Group A was a reminder that even when traditional powerhouses aren’t sweeping the board, emerging contenders can make waves — keeping fans on the edge of their seats as knockout seedings took shape.

Group B: Sibol Philippines Dominates, Malaysia and Indonesia Secure the last spots.

Group B quickly turned into one of the tournament’s defining narratives, full of international rivalries as early as this stage..

Sibol Philippines lived up to the heightened expectations placed upon them, harboring the complete roster of the current MSC 2025 champions, Team Liquid. The Filipinos put together a perfect group stage showing, sweeping every opponent 2-0 and earning all available 8 points, cementing themselves as Group B’s top seed and a serious medal favorite moving forward. 

Behind Sibol, Malaysia also punched its ticket to the knockout rounds with a strong 2-1-1 record for 5 points, showing grit and strategic depth across multiple series. The MSC 2025 runner up, Selangor Red Giants OG Esports had 3 of their roster in the mix of the team. They have bagged themselves gold in the recent IESF WEC 2025 MLBB men’s division, which had given them a lot of expectations coming in this tournament. 

Indonesia, despite some early challenges, held on for 4 points with a 2-0-2 mark to finish third in the group, booking them a quarterfinal matchup and keeping their hopes alive. Their representatives are not the best they have to offer as Team Liquid ID didn’t even secure their playoffs spot during their own MPL ID S16.

Singapore and Laos rounded out the group with fewer points as they continue to look ahead to how they can refine their play for future international competition.

Knockout Stage Outlook: What to Expect

With the Group Stage now concluded, the tournament advances into its elimination brackets where the pressure intensifies and every matchup carries medal implications. The Philippines and Myanmar has secured a semifinals spot, guaranteeing them 2 chances of getting a podium finish. The other 4 remaining have to fight against each other, to move to the next round if they want to finish their run with a medal.

Sibol Philippines, unbeaten and confident will await their quarterfinal opponent, while Malaysia and Indonesia will lock horns with other qualified Group A teams. Myanmar has the same position as Philippines with Vietnam and Thailand also combating their counterparts in Group B.

As the competition heads into its final phases some talks about legacy are in the works already. Can Sibol extend their SEA Games gold streak or will Malaysia bag a consecutive gold medal in a span of 2 weeks? Will the rising tides of teams like Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand upset the favorites in Group B? The answers will unfold in the knockout rounds of the 33rd SEA Games MLBB Men’s Divison.