Battle of the Judges explained

Battle of the Judges is a 2023 Philippine television reality talent competition show broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Rico Gutierrez, it is hosted by Alden Richards. It premiered on July 15, 2023 on the network's Sabado Star Power sa Gabi line-up. The show concluded on September 30, 2023 with a total of 12 episodes. It was replaced by Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko in its timeslot.

Cast

Host

• Alden Richards^[2]

Judges

• Annette Gozon-Valdes^[3]
• Boy Abunda^[4]
• Bea Alonzo^[5]
• Jose Manalo^[6]

Format

This show is a spin-off of the Got Talent franchise. The format of the show is based on the French version of the show with the same name. The competition between judges begins as they mentor and prepare their squad members for the three levels of competition: Battle of the Best or the elimination round, is the thrilling encounter of 24 squad members who will fight it out in 12 Battles.

Battle to the Top is the semifinal round where the four judges will continue to guide the remaining 12 performers who will compete against each other in 6 battles in order to move forward to the final level, The Ultimate Battle, or the Championship round. Here, the remaining six performers will face each other to conquer the battle stage and be voted as the one and only ultimate champion of the competition, who will receive one million pesos.^[7]

Teams

Color key

• Winner
• Runner-up
• Third place
• 4th-7th place
• Eliminated in the Wildcard
• Eliminated in the Battle to the Top
• Eliminated in the Battle of the Best
• Withdrew

scope=col width="16%"	Judges	scope=col width="84%" colspan=6	24 squad members
Boy Abunda[8]
	Shammah	Kathy Hipolito Mas	Brenan Espartinez	Clyde Basbas	Nocturnal Dance Company	Shaneya
Bea Alonzo[9]
	Joseph Erwin Valerio	Amazing Duo	Jay-R Siaboc	Erwin Reyes	Moses Gozun	Roni Mariano
Annette Gozon-Valdes[10]
	Power Impact Dancers	Ver5us	Vianna Ricafranca	Kendal Fabroa	Nomer Lasala	Shadow Arts Theater
Jose Manalo[11]
	Marvin Peralta	JB Dela Cruz	Steps of Gold	Electro Groovers	Roxor Beat	Marlou Mangeron

Battle of the Best

In this round, 24 squad members of the four judges will fight it out in 12 battles. The winner for each battle will be based on the votes of the two non-competing judges and 100 studio audience.^[12]

Color key

	Judges' and Audiences' Choice	--->
	Squad member won the battle and advanced to the Battle to the Top
	Squad member lost the battle, but was picked by their judge to compete in the Wildcard
	Squad member lost the battle and was eliminated

Episode 1 (July 15)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose	Audience's Vote
1	1	Boy Abunda	Nocturnal Dance Company	✔	–	✔
	2	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Shadow Arts Theater			–	✔	–
2	1	Jose Manalo	Marlou Mangeron	–	✔	–
	2	Bea Alonzo	Moses Gozun	✔			–	✔

Episode 2 (July 22)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	1	Jose Manalo	Electro Groovers	✔	✔	✔
	2	Boy Abunda	Shaneya		–		–	–
2	1	Bea Alonzo	Jay-R Siaboc	–	–	–
	2	Annette Gozon-Valdes	VER5US	✔	✔	✔

Episode 3 (July 29)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Nomer Lasala	–	–	–
	2	Boy Abunda	Shammah			✔	✔	✔
2	1	Bea Alonzo	Amazing Duo	✔	–	✔
	2	Jose Manalo	Roxor Beat	–			✔	–

Episode 4 (August 5)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Kendal Fabroa	✔	–	–
	2	Jose Manalo	Marvin Peralta	–	✔	✔
2	1	Bea Alonzo	Roni Mariano	–	–	–
	2	Boy Abunda	Kathy Hipolito Mas	✔	✔	✔

Episode 5 (August 12)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	1	Jose Manalo	Steps of Gold	–	–	–
	2	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Vianna Ricafranca	✔	✔	✔
2	1	Boy Abunda	Clyde Basbas	✔	–	✔
	2	Bea Alonzo	Joseph Erwin Valerio	–	✔	–

Episode 6 (August 19)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose	Audience's Vote
1	1	Boy Abunda	Brenan Espartinez	✔	–	–
	2	Jose Manalo	JB Dela Cruz		–		✔	✔
2	1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Power Impact Dancers	✔	–	–
	2	Bea Alonzo	Erwin Reyes	–	✔	✔

Battle to the Top

In this semi-final round, 12 remaining squad members of the four judges will fight it out in 6 battles. The winner for each battle will be based on the votes of the two non-competing judges and 100 studio audience.

Color key

	Judges' and Audiences' Choice	--->
	Squad member won the battle and advanced to the Ultimate Battle
	Squad member lost the battle and was eliminated

Episode 7 (August 26)

Joseph Erwin Valerio replaced Moses Gozun due to his competition in WCOPA 2023.

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Vianna Ricafranca	-	-	-
	2	Jose Manalo	JB Dela Cruz	✔	✔	✔
2	1	Boy Abunda	Nocturnal Dance Company	–	✔	-
	2	Bea Alonzo	Joseph Erwin Valerio	✔	–	✔

Episode 8 (September 2)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	1	Bea Alonzo	Erwin Reyes	–	–	–
	2	Jose Manalo	Marvin Peralta	✔			✔	✔
2	1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	VER5US	–	✔	–
	2	Boy Abunda	Shammah			✔	–	✔

Episode 9 (September 9)

Battle	Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
				Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose	Audience's Vote
1	1	Boy Abunda	Kathy Hipolito Mas	✔	–	✔	✔	–
	2	Boy Abunda	Clyde Basbas	–	✔	–	–	✔
2	1	Jose Manalo	Electro Groovers	–	–	–
	2	Bea Alonzo	Amazing Duo	✔			✔	✔

Battle to the Top Wildcard Edition

In this wildcard round, 4 previously eliminated squad members of the four judges will return to fight it out in one battle and be part of the Ultimate Battle. The winner will be based on the voting of the judges and the studio audience. In this round, five battle stars will be given: four from the judges (with the judges aren't allowed to vote on their own squad member), and one from the studio audience. In the event of a tie, the studio audience will vote again to break the tie.

Color key

	Squad member won the battle and advanced to the Ultimate Battle
	Squad member lost the battle and was eliminated

Episode 10 (September 16)

Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
			Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose
1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Power Impact Dancers	✔	✔			✔
2	Bea Alonzo	Jay-R Siaboc					✔
3	Boy Abunda	Brenan Espartinez			✔	✔
4	Jose Manalo	Steps of Gold

Ultimate Battle

In this 2-part final round, 7 remaining squad members of the four judges will fight it out in 1 ultimate battle. The winner will be determined by the number of battle stars to be given by the judges and the studio audience.

Color key

• Winner
• Runner-up
• 3rd Place

Episode 11 (September 23)

Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
			Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose		Total Battle Stars Received	Placement
1	Annette Gozon-Valdes	Power Impact Dancers	–	21	—	–	–	89.05	Runner-up
2	Bea Alonzo	Joseph Erwin Valerio	–		–	22	–	77	5th Place
3	Jose Manalo	JB Dela Cruz	–	–	–		18.78	73.78	7th Place

Episode 12 (September 30)

Order	Team	Participant	Voting result
			Boy	Bea	Annette	Jose		Total Battle Stars Received	Placement
1	Boy Abunda	Shammah	—	–	–	–	21.54	86.54	3rd Place
2	Jose Manalo	Marvin Peralta	20	–	–	—	–	91.52	Winner
3	Boy Abunda	Kathy Hipolito Mas		–	–	20	–	74.05	6th Place
4	Bea Alonzo	Amazing Duo	–		18	–	–	84.4	4th Place

Ratings

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement People in television homes, the pilot episode of Battle of the Judges earned an 11.8% rating.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Calderon, Nora . Boy hirap kalabanin si Annette! . July 22, 2023 . The Philippine Star.
2. Web site: GMA's new Battle of the Judges: Who’s the 'most dangerous' judge? . Vibas, Danny . Tribune . July 14, 2023.
3. Web site: Annette Gozon-Valdes says her position as GMA top exec not at play in Battle of the Judges . Olea, Jerry . PEP . July 14, 2023.
4. Web site: Competition leads to better things - Boy Abunda . Jusay, Annalyn S. . July 10, 2023 . . July 14, 2023.
5. Web site: Team Bea Alonzo is 'almost ready to go' ahead of Battle of the Judges premiere . Calanog, Dale . . July 14, 2023.
6. Web site: New offerings mark GMA 73rd anniversary . June 6, 2023 . . July 14, 2023.
7. Web site: The judges are ready to battle beginning July 15 on GMA Network . June 11, 2023 . . July 15, 2023.
8. Web site: Heto na! Kilalanin ang buong Squad ni Judge Boy Abunda! ✨ . . July 15, 2023 . July 18, 2023.
9. Web site: Paparating na! Kilalanin ang Squad ni Judge Bea Alonzo! ✨ . . July 15, 2023 . July 18, 2023.
10. Web site: Magpapasiklaban na! Kilalanin ang Squad ni Judge Annette Gozon-Valdes! ✨ . . July 15, 2023 . July 18, 2023.
11. Web site: Lalaban na! Kilalanin ang Squad ni Judge Jose Manalo! ✨ . . July 15, 2023 . July 18, 2023.
12. Web site: About The Show . GMA Network . July 15, 2023.
13. Web site: Philippine Entertainment in 2023: The 10 Highest-rated TV debuts of the Year . CC, Je . January 19, 2024 . LionhearTV . January 21, 2024.