By Angela Jahziel B. Encabo
“Wa kay makuha anang sige’g duwa-duwa nimo diha!”
– is a typical line many hear when they are caught spending their leisure time on online games. Often seen as a mere distraction, gaming is sometimes dismissed as an unproductive habit, a waste of time that could be spent on “more important” things. However, beyond the common stereotypes and misjudgment of older generations, competitive online gaming has taken the world by storm, paving the way to a brighter future for many student esports athletes.
Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) is one of the many universities in Cebu that actively participates in this field of sports and, over the years, has emerged through student initiatives and varsities who compete in multiple tournaments to showcase their determination, strategic thinking, and team spirit.
But amidst the excitement they share for every matchup and behind every iconic online personas they have created for themselves, these esports athletes have more to their stories left to unravel.
What’s their life like behind the screen? How do they manage to juggle the already hectic university life and their regular scrims? These are a few of many questions for Joachim Andrei Tango-an and Kirbie Lloyd Bacus to answer as they take us into a dimension of their own.
Leveling Up: Joachim’s Rise to Glory
Making tough choices is something both present in competitive online gaming and life. For Joachim, the choice to pursue his passion for esports amidst the pressure of college life was something that changed his perception of life.
Stylish Joachim
“Sa esports, diha nimo makita nga competitive ka, di ka papilde and diha sad ka makakat-on nga maka manage raka sa imong time bisag naa kay buhatonon.”
[Through esports, it’s where you can see yourself being competitive, someone determined to win. It is where you also learn that you are capable of managing your time well even when you have other responsibilities to look out for. ]
When asked why he pursued competitive gaming, the newly appointed captain of CIT-U’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team Joachim answers with great enthusiasm. Currently a third-year Bachelor in Science of Computer Engineering student, he has been juggling the hectic university life alongside his active pro gamer lifestyle.
Joachim shares that he had first taken an interest in playing MLBB in his high school years, appreciating it for its simplicity and accessibility — easily being able to play with just a mobile phone. He takes pride in using mechanical heroes like Valentina and Xavier describing how these heroes require articulation and specific gameplay which allows them to have a major role in the game.
Years later, his love for this game led him to be introduced to the world of competitive gaming and found himself at the forefront of a new chapter in his life.
Joachim Andrei Tango-an
“Nisugod ko around 2018 sa Balamban Cebu, puros rapud ako mga classmates ako ka duwa kontra sa mga top teams sad sa Cebu,” Joachim said, recalling his earlier days in the field of esports.
[I started playing around 2018 in Balamban Cebu, in a team together with my classmates against top teams in Cebu.]
He would later enter CIT University to pursue his degree in Computer Engineering and was tugged by his burning passion to play and participate in many campus esports tournaments. This led to Joachim being scouted and becoming an official esports varsity athlete to represent the university against other competing institutions.
However, this was but the tip of the iceberg of what awaits. Few seasons later, Joachim finds himself in a new chapter of his journey as a newly-appointed team captain.
“Kaya nako mu lead ug team… fit nako ang role sa ML kay pang captain man and naa koy experience.”
[I am capable of leading a team. My role in ML is befitting of a captain and I have the experience.]
Joachim shares about his experience in last year’s CESAFI Esports League (CEL) Season 2 that granted CIT University rights to boast, holding 2nd place against University of San Carlos. These, along with many other achievements from his younger years in the field, has curated him a path to taking the role of CIT-U’s MLBB Team Captain.
From Zero to Hero: Kirbie’s Origin Story
Like many popular tales, before heroes became renowned and celebrated all over the world, they all had to start somewhere. And for young and curious Kirbie, his once upon a time began in a local computer shop.
Confident Kirby
“Sauna wa koy PC, mag comshop rako,” the Valorant team captain recalled how he first was introduced to the game.
[Back then, I had no personal computer, so I [only play games found in] computer shops]
As a second-year college student pursuing Civil Engineering, Kirbie is the renowned smoker and captain of CIT University’s Valorant team. Having been exposed to the field of competitive online gaming since 2020, he has continuously dedicated his later years to be involved in the competitive scene.
“Kay taga Talisay mi ato puros, ‘Taga Talisay’ ang among team name. Kato nga tourna, wa mi ga expect ma top mi kay daghan pro teams ni apil,” Kirbie recalled.
[Because we were all from Talisay, we called ourselves ‘Taga Talisay.’ We initially did not expect to win that tournament because there were many pro teams participating.]
Kirbie is also known for choosing agents like Omen and Clove during scrims — short for scrimmage, which is a practice game between two teams — and official tournaments, highly valuing how the roles of these agents play a big impact on the outcome of the game.
He would later realize that his choices in agents and expertise to commit to its responsibilities would be one of the reasons he is granted the position of team captain.
Kirbie Lloyd Bacus
“Nakita nila na kahibaw ko mu-lead ug mu-shot call sa duwa. Kahibaw magpakalma ug kanus-a mudesisyon.”
[They saw how I was able to take the lead and make shot calls during the game, how I knew to calm my teammates down, and when to make big decisions during the game.]
Despite playing a significant role as captain and smoker during his games, Kirbie remains a calm composure and sets his attention to the success he wishes for himself and the team he is leading. According to him, he would feel a sense of success when he sees his teammates bringing what they practiced during their late night scrims to the tournaments.
When asked what motivates him to continue pursuing esports despite having to multitask and set enough time for his studies, Kirbie says, with pride, that his constant determination and hard work has allowed him to create an efficient balance that allows him to enjoy his love for online gaming and be a step closer towards receiving his degree.
Shattering Misconceptions on Esports Athletes
Over the years, the debate on whether online gaming should be considered a sport has struck the world by storm and has continuously brought up new arguments and stereotypical rebuttals against them. And to this day, many esports athletes still feel ridiculed when compared to other fields of sports.
Although esports lack the physical components that are displayed in many traditional sports, it still shares many attributes that are expected from renowned athletes of other fields. This includes strategic thinking, intense training, and good team coordination.
“Mangitag [mi’g] scrims taga alas Dyis. Strict gyud [mi] sa mga scrim. Discipline gyud mi nila.” — Joachim replied when asked about their training.
[We find scrims every 10:00 p.m. We are very strict with scrims. We should always discipline them.]
When asked on how both current and previous captains managed their teams in the excitement for tournaments like the upcoming CEL Season 3, Joachim and Kirbie both highlighted that discipline and rigorous training is necessary for them to prepare. It also serves as an opportunity to try out new game plans and rotations to see team compatibility and ensure a smoother run when the tournament season kicks in.
“Dili daw ka makakwarta sa sige’g duwa,” Kirbie quotes.
[You can’t earn money from playing.]
With a hint of amusement at such accusations common against student esports athletes, Kirbie responded with a jest saying that in online gaming there are many opportunities to earn money, but it’s not a secret he’s ready to share just yet.
Joachim also brings attention to how older generations still view online gaming as a distraction.
”Naa silay doubts nako nga dili ko mutabang sa balay tungod kay sige ko’g duwa, but akoa lang gyud is dili ma-pause ang game. Naa sad silay doubts nga dili ko makahuman tungod sa ML but ako man gyud gi-manage akong time. “
[They have doubts that I no longer help with chores because I’m always playing, but for me it’s just because I cannot pause in the middle of the game. They also have doubts that I might not be able to finish [my studies] because of ML, but I really do my best to manage my time well.]
This highlights the internal struggles many young student athletes have to face and overcome alongside the underlying pressure to succeed. However, instead of taking a step back, this only motivates aspiring pro gamers like Joachim and Kirbie to pursue what they love.
”Displina ug magtarong og eskwela kay mahal ang tuition,” Kirbie adds in his sentiment to debunk misconceptions about them.
[Being disciplined and studying properly because the tuition is expensive.]
Despite their rigorous schedules, student esports athletes still ensure to dedicate time in managing their studies well. And despite common beliefs, their passion for online games does not hinder them from pursuing a degree. Joachim concedes to this by sharing how esports granted him support in his education as well.
“Tungod sa ML nahimo ko’g varsity sa skwelahan ug na-scout ko,” Joachim affirms.
[Because of ML, I was scouted and became a varsity in the University.]
This short but meaningful response greatly clashes with other people’s opinions on how esports may waste their younger years. In actuality, the field of competitive online gaming continuously paves opportunities for many student athletes and supports them in their pursuit of success.
The two team captains reassure that they have always fixed their focus towards their goal as a team, and with CEL Season 3 just around the corner, they are burning with passion to bring home the trophy and glory to our University.
Get your head in the game!
Amidst the sea of judgement, the heroes do not falter nor cower in fear. Student esports athletes like Joachim and Kirbie continue to challenge the stereotypes and opinions society has set on their field to this day. Their passion and determination have allowed a surge of new outlooks and have paved paths for those who look up to them and wish to follow in their footsteps.
Joachim expressed his advice to aspiring young pro gamers saying, “If you want to be an esports athlete, keep grinding sa duwa. If unsay kamaohan nimo, stick lang ana and apil-apil [og] tournaments sa school kay mao nang chance na ma-scout ka. Unya, ayaw lang sad biyai imong pagskwela, i-manage imong time.”
[If you want to be an esports athlete, keep grinding in the game, stick to what you’re good at, join tournaments in school to increase your chances of getting scouted, don’t forget about your studies, and manage your time.]
On the other hand, Kirbie also shared his message to beginning athletes saying, “Una kay di gyud biyaan ang skwela. I-balance gyud. Unya need gyud mag grind hangtud ma top kas leaderboards. Apil outside tournaments ug online tournaments para mahasa imong experience ug para di ka ma pressure mu duwa.”
[First, don’t forget about your studies by balancing it well. You also have to grind until you top the leaderboards and join outside and online tournaments to improve your experience to lessen the pressure during games.]
By sharing a glimpse of the reality they face, the team captains have broadened the community’s understanding of esports athletes in CIT University, demonstrating that, to them, online gaming is more than just what is commonly deemed a frivolous pastime. Instead, the life they have built around it has become their partners in pursuing their own dreams and completing their years in college.
Ultimately, the journey of student esports athletes is proof of the evolving landscape of sports and the growing recognition of competitive online gaming as a legitimate and valuable activity that should be respected like any other sport. As esports continues to gain momentum, it is athletes like Joachim and Kirbie who are paving the way for future generations of aspiring pro gamers, proving to the world that dreams can be realized, one game at a time.
