Tourney Report, as written by TO Dante Gagelonia (1001192)
Hi! Here's my official writeup as the tourney organizer for our third annual Basagan ng Bungo (Shattering of Skulls), which successfully concluded last November 29, 2025 here in the Philippines.
Traditionally held as part of the birthday celebration of the Prince of Quezon City, Richard Barnett (1001663), Basagan ng Bungo is a standard constructed 3R+F tourney with an extra point system for minion torpor/kill counts. We recognize two winners for BnB: the conventional tourney champ, and the top-scoring "King of Kombat."
The extra point system is as follows:
1 POINT
- Diablerize an opponent's vampire outside of combat
- Burn an opponent's ally out of combat
- Torpor an opponent's vampire out of combat
- Incapacitate an opponent's imbued out of combat
2 POINTS
- Torpor an opponent's vampire in combat
- Incapacitate an opponent's imbued in combat
- Burn an opponent's ally in combat
3 POINTS
- Burn an opponent's vampire in combat
- Perform diablerie in combat
The highest-scoring player by the end of Round 3 was Vincent Paul Layaoen (6910010), with a total of 50 combat points, piloting his Gangrel "Vikings and their Birds" deck.
This year, we had 15 players total. The finalist seeds and their decks were:
1. 1001891 Micon Garcia, "Tiny Gun Vomits the Flames of Hell", [LINK TBA]
2. 6910010 Vincent Paul Layaoen, "Vikings and their Birds",
vdb.im/decks/9acd5f6ed
3. 6910009 Brian Maniquis, "Tommi Hakomaa's CEL Guns 2025",
vdb.im/decks/12005
4. 1001192 Dante Gagelonia, "Saulot's Guidance Counselor",
vdb.im/decks/454828e68
5. 1005720 Jeremiah Faustino, "Ariadnom-nom-nom",
vdb.im/decks/ac6f1e4a0
The chosen play sequence was: Dante > Micon > Brian > Vincent > Jeremiah
The finals table had an amusing divide: guns guns guns on one side (Micon's weenie swarm of Saturday Night Specials+Dragon's Breath Rounds beside Brian's use of Tommi Hakomaa's celerity guns template) and ANI/PRO viciousness on the other (Vincent's birds and bats beside Jeremiah's cavalcade of claws). In between the sides was my Salubri defensive disciplinarian toolbox.
Finals timed out at 2.5h with me at 3.5VP and Jeremiah at 0.5VP. The tourney marked the first time a Salubri deck won a standard constructed tournament in the Philippines. I was thrilled to be the one to achieve it here, especially before the release of New Blood: Salubri in 2026.
As I was the TO, I raffled off my finalist and champion prizes in line with the policy that Richard and I have for the events we run.
Caroline Dy (6910021) designed and printed the commemorative fist tokens for the winners. She also illustrated the event's key art and finalist playmats, with the latter supplied by Julianne Febiar (6910020) of Whimsy Game Cafe, the venue for the tournament. Paul Tio (1001661), the Prince of Pasig City, also contributed additional promo cards for all participants, along with a sealed Jyhad booster pack for the King of Kombat.
Photos accompanying this report were taken by me, Richard, and Danz Holandez (1001115).
The Philippine VTES meta is diverse but very combat-leaning, hence the flavor of the Basagan ng Bungo tournament series. It's become a beloved tradition, rivaling Nationals in player enthusiasm and attendance. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it going in the years to come.
TWD - Basagan ng Bungo 2025 - Metro Manila (Philippines), 29 Nov 2025
