Card Game Enthusiasts Battle it out for the first NGCL 2025

Neutral Grounds Philippines is set to celebrate its 27th Anniversary with its inaugural Neutral Grounds Champions League Finals competition this September 14 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay. 

Competitors from ten different Neutral Grounds branches will be competing to become the champion of their respective board games from TCGs Magic:The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, and the miniature game Marvel Crisis Protocol, starting from 11am.

The competitors for the championship are set to battle it out to be the first NGCL champions of the games they represent

Neutral Grounds Championship League Finalists

Ali Mall

Team Manager: Razel Nogra

• Flesh and Blood

  - Alessandria Maeve Ocampo

  - Oniel De Leon

  - Patrick Reyes

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Tenille Tan

  - Andrew Jocson

  - Wilheim Sy

  
  

• Marvel Crisis Protocol

  - Germaine Ang

  - Bryan Kaye de Guzman

Cebu

Team Manager: Rod Osal

• Flesh and Blood

  - Bryan Dayak

  - Nathaniel Terdes

  - Julius Baltonado

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Arnold Evardo

  - Jester Buncha

  - Carlo Gamboa

  
  

• Marvel Crisis Protocol

  - Christian Sayson

  - Jeremy Damazo

Centris

Team Manager: Razel Nogra

• Flesh and Blood

  - Jaime Luigi Gonzaga

  - Jordan Charles Magsalin

  - Gabriel Angelo F. Del Rosario

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Franz Costales

  - Ferdie Melendres

  - Paolo Lorica

  
  

• Marvel Crisis Protocol

  - Raistilin Majere

  - Vicvic Villavicencio

District Cavite

Team Manager: Patrick Orlina

• Flesh and Blood

  - Michael Joseph Villano

  - Rod Waje

  - Trevis Martinez

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Jomar Nave

  - Jose Sabale

  - Eddie Bernales

  
  

GH Mall

Team Manager: Nyo Hernandez

• Flesh and Blood

  - Mikko Peña

  - Richard Tan

  - Angelito Eusebio Jr.

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Philip Christopher Rama III

  - Allan Fong

  - Daniel Lancion

  
  

• Marvel Crisis Protocol

  - Sean Santos

  - Ghost

Megamall

Team Manager: Veronica Mamon

• Magic: The Gathering

  -  Jet Miguel Lorenzo

  - Salvador Vargas

  - Jomar Cariaga

  
  

Vertis North

Team Manager: Andrew Guinto

• Flesh and Blood

  - Bryan Pocholo Miguel Illana

  - Javier Gonzaga

  - Victor Miguel Lim III

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Erick Natividad

  - Jose Catalan Jr.

  - Neil Bucas

  
  

• Marvel Crisis Protocol

  - Chard Palma

  - Japoy Ongchangco

Alabang Town Center

Team Manager: Vhange Bacay

• Flesh and Blood

  - Reynald Jay M. Payad

  - Gabriel Lukban

  - Richard Malcolm Chuaunsu

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Edward Mejorada

  - Francis Villanueva

  - RJ Sanchez

Makati

Team Manager: Michael Lao

• Flesh and Blood

  - Alexander Miguel Sy

  - Carlo Saul

  - Grancelylr Andrei Sia

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Allan Bernardez

  - Aldrin Cacho

  - Carlo Martin Chua

  
  

Manila Bay

Team Manager: Rodel Lagen

• Flesh and Blood

  - Samuel Angelo Regalado

  - Jeremy Medina

  - Paolo Angel

  
  

• Magic: The Gathering

  - Allan Oca

  - Ryan John Tabuso

  - Austin Fuster

  
  

• Marvel Crisis Protocol

  - Aldrine Alarcon

  - Nigel Lim

Battle of the branches

The ten Neutral Grounds branches started hosting their local competitions last June 16 until July 31, with each branch hosting table shows for each of the three games.

Individuals were then sorted into whoever acquired the highest points and were later grouped into teams to represent their branch for the championship on September 14.

Card game ethusiasts participate in a local championship tournament at Neutral Grounds Manila Bay, Paranaque city on July 20. (Photo from Rodel Lägen, Facebook)

The final representatives divided into twenty-five teams (9 teams from Flesh and Blood, 10 teams from Magic: The Gathering, and 6 teams from Marvel Crisis Protocol), each representing their branch from Manila to Cebu would then compete to become the final three teams for each team to become the champions and finalists of the upcoming championship.   

NGCL 2025’s top 3 finalists are set to receive prizes ranging from store credit from Neutral Grounds to entire player booster boxes. Teams who reach the final three for each game would also receive a trophy for competing in the games. 

Championship up to Luck 

Each team has its most prominent player positioned by luck, a good deck, or a keen mind. 

Centris branch Flesh and Blood representative, Victor Miguel Lim III sets the top position for his branch with 17 points beating out Bryan Pocholo Miguel Illana by five points.

Marvel Crisis Protocol’s Centris representative, Raistilin Majere kicked off the game on their branch with a 21-15 lead against Vicvic Villavicencio, showing a far cry against other competitors with Ed Samoy only acquiring 8 points. 

Magic: The Gathering players Erick Natividad from the Neutral Grounds Vertis North branch and Arnold Evardo from Cebu’s Neutral Grounds branch both garnered 17 points each. 

Neutral Grounds Megamall branch's sole group representative's Jet Miguel Lorenzo, Salvador Vargas, and Jomar Cariaga would compete on NGCL 2025's Magic: The Gathering tournament.

While these players have the advantage, victory is still up in the air. One thing is for sure, only the best would claim the crown and bring home the trophies for the Neutral Grounds Championship League, only time would tell.