Myanmar's journey in M6 has ended, but Falcon Esports has shown their passion in esports is greater than ever. And for Filipino coach/analyst Rodel "Ar Sy" Cruz, he wants to make his fellow Southeast Asians feel like family.
We listen AND we don’t judge.
That's a TikTok trend, primarily for couples who reveal unspoken things to each other in the semblance of a judgement-free space.
But it may very well apply to Rodel "Ar Sy" Cruz--a Filipino Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) coach/analyst for Myanmar team Falcon Esports.
After a stunning run in the M6 World Championship in Malaysia, FCON was eliminated in the lower bracket quarterfinals by Russia-based squad Team Spirit, 3-1.
In the press conference after the loss, he made an emotional declaration.
"I can sacrifice my Filipino team just to go to Myanmar and represent Myanmar again next year," Cruz said.
Filipinos are highly-sought as imports and coaches when it comes to the pro MLBB scene. After all, the Philippines has produced four M-series champions in a row.
Usually, it's a chance for a better opportunity. But for Ar Sy, fighting for esports in Myanmar goes beyond that.
"In the first place pa lang, alam kong may malaki na akong isa-sakripisyo and sabi ko subukan ko lang one month. Tapos after nung one month, pinatunayan nila sa akin na gusto talaga nila yung ginagawa nila," he shared.
[ALSO READ: Iba pa rin talaga': Filipino MLBB players overseas share yearning for home]
Ar Sy saw firsthand that his players from Myanmar are willing to be away from their families at a young age just to pursue their passion in Mobile Legends.
"Talagang kahit may sakit kami, kahit may sakit ako, walang reason na hindi kami pwedeng mag-practice."
This is the reason why Ar Sy feels the need to stay overseas. And just like his players, he also faces personal battles.
"Iniwan ko ‘yung wife ko, buntis siya. So hindi ko nakita ‘yung paglabas ng anak ko hanggang umuwi ako sa Pilipinas after EWC. Then two weeks lang, umalis ulit ako."
Ar Sy’s child is currently nine months old, and he has not seen his kid to this day.
"Hanggang ngayon nine months na yung anak ko, hindi ko pa rin nakikita, so 'yung sacrifice ko na 'yun is tuloy tuloy."
Instead, Ar Sy formed a new family with his pro MLBB team.
"Sobrang mahal na mahal ko 'yung players ko kasi tinuturing nila akong tatay, kapatid, hindi lang ako basta coach sa kanila," he shared.
"Pinagluluto ko sila, minsan ako pa magsisintas ng sapatos, taga-laba ng jersey, para lang at least ma-feel nila 'yung pagmamahal ng isang Pilipino," Ar Sy told One Sports.
And Falcon Esports seemed to have returned that love, going for 3-1 in the M6 Swiss Stage by beating MPL Philippines' Aurora Gaming, MPL Malaysia's Selangor Red Giants, and even North America's BloodThirstyKings.
The Burmese team even took down Singapore's NIP Flash before falling to the Philippines' Fnatic ONIC PH and Russia-based Team Spirit.
Still, Ar Sy never stopped fighting for esports in Myanmar. The MLBB professional league ran from 2018 to 2020, until the military junta took over the country. They had to play in a qualifier to secure the M6 slot.
"Deserve din talaga ng Myanmar na magkaroon ng MPL," he declared in the emotional postgame press conference.
[ALSO READ: Falcon Esports's Rodel 'Ar Sy' Cruz calls for MPL Myanmar return: 'Deserve din talaga']
Ar Sy may not have seen his kid in the Philippines for the most part of the year due to his work commitments, but he has made a family with Falcon Esports.
Myanmar's journey in M6 has ended, but they have shown their passion in esports is greater than ever. Their battle is greater than MLBB.