It is common to hear the sentiment that there are a few women in esports. But here in AcadArena Edu and our campus network, it isn’t quite correct. We’ve asked ourselves, do women need to compete on the big stage to be considered part of esports? The skill, training and tenacity needed to manage an esports organization is a challenge in itself.

Nicole Paguio was a casual gamer when she first entered college. She’s that rare recruit who liked organizing paperwork. She first started as an Executive Coordinator to the Corporate Secretary of the UST Thomasian Gaming Society (TGS.) She became the Corporate Secretary a year later.

When UST TGS signed a partnership with the esports team, Teletigers Esports Club, that’s when the casual gamer was introduced to esports. 

Teletigers Esports Club is one of the ten (10) pioneering clubs of the AcadArena Alliance program. Known for their strong competitive culture, they have a few podium finishes on their belt in AcadArena since 2019. That show of strength continued well into UAAP Esports, they placed third in NBA2k, and second in both VALORANT and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Nicole became an officer in both clubs and was able to balance her service for both casual and competitive gaming communities.

She notes how Trisha Kyle Viñas, the former Vice President of TGR, was the one who reeled her into esports. Nicole became Trisha’s Executive Assistant. “I looked up to her and told myself that I wanted to be a good, kind, fearless and respected leader,” Nicole shared. “To this day, I would tell Ms. TK that she trained the first female president of TGR and she would tell me that she merely molded me to be a part of the leader I am right now.”

Nicole feels the weight of her role but it is also what drives her forward. She’s doing this for the players, the Thomasian community, their fans past and present, those that trusted her in her role, and most of all, herself, for the pride and joy that it gives her.