Falcons AP.Bren has languished in last place and reigned as world champions. They’ve felt glorious victory and humiliating defeat— yet they’re still together and not stopping.
In the world of Mobile Legends (MLBB) esports, there’s no other team with as rich of a history as Falcons AP.Bren. They’re the first Filipino team to become MLBB world champions, along with being the first team to become repeat champions. They have numerous international trophies and have won gold medals in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, to name a few, and currently, they are the most decorated, and undoubtedly the strongest, MLBB team in the world.
Of course, reaching that level was not easy and involved no small amount of hard work, sacrifice, and faith from everyone involved. The GAME spoke with the three veterans of the team, Coach Francis “Ducky” Glindro, Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel, and David “FlapTzy” Canon about their experience of being there since the beginning.
How did Falcons AP.Bren all come together? What does it take to keep going when things go wrong? And now that they’re on top, what goals remain left unchecked?
Figuring Things Out
Back in 2016, when MLBB first launched, no one could have imagined that it would become a massive phenomenon in the Philippines. Everyone was simply enjoying this new mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). There were tournaments, a far cry from the kinds of productions we have today, but they still provided an avenue for players to put their skills to the test, and that’s how many veteran players started their careers.
“Nagulat ako kasi nakikita ko na merong mga tournament sa [MLBB] na di ko in-expect,” said FlapTzy. “Akala ko parang hanggang laro lang siya. Hanggang sa nakita ko may mga taong nananalo ng tournament tapos may prize money.”
Pheww was on the same trajectory, especially when he realized that he and his amateur squad could earn from this. “Nag-join lang kami ng mga maliit na online tournament,” he added. “Tapos nung lumala na siya, nakikita ko na lumala na rin yung prize pool. Nagka-idea ako na pwede pala maging pro player na habang naglalaro may sahod. Tapos doon ako nagporsige talaga na maging pro player.”
“There was no established esports scene. We were just playing for fun,” added Coach Ducky. At the time, he was still playing with Pheww as a teammate, back when they were playing tournaments in malls, thinking to themselves that it couldn’t possibly get bigger than this.
But then, the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) was established, and things became a lot more serious.
Bringing Falcons AP.Bren Together
Pheww was one of the first professional MLBB players for the MPL Philippines back when it started in 2018. He and his former team, Digital Devils Pro, qualified for its first season and he’s been a mainstay ever since.
Falcons AP.Bren, known as just Bren Esports back then, was already an established name, but the championship-winning lineup only came together later on in 2020, and that was mostly from a bit of luck and good timing from Pheww.
“Kakatapos lang ng SEA Games,” recalled Pheww. As some may recall, the 2019 SEA Games, hosted in the Philippines, was a landmark event for both the country and the esports industry, as it was the first time that esports was to be included as a medal event in a competition sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.
MLBB was front and center during that event and team Philippines was able to secure a historic gold against rivals Indonesia. “After ng SEA Games, nag-decide yung mga players na magsama-sama kami for MPL. Napag-decide na namin na magsama-sama kami under [Bren Esports] kasi majority naman ng mga players nasa kanila.”
Pheww was playing for Cignal Ultra at the time and his contract was almost up. Not only that, the team was also kicked out of the MPL for finishing in last place that season. The other members of team Philippines weren’t doing all that hot in the MPL either, yet somehow, they came together to win a gold medal against one of the strongest MLBB regions in the world.
There was potential here and all of them could see it.
It took a bit more time before the core of the team as we know it was assembled. First, Ducky was brought in as a coach by Pheww in MPL season five at the start of 2020. “I was in EVOS Indonesia for a year and I was so homesick,” said Ducky with an exasperated smile. “Ako lang yung Pilipino doon. I didn’t have anyone to talk to. At that moment, doon ko na rin na-realize ang hirap pala ng trabaho ng mga OFW. Sobrang homesick ako.” As he recalls, he was on his way back home when Pheww messaged him and asked if he was interested in coaching for their team.
Next was FlapTzy who joined in MPL season six. “Parang, sobrang perfect timing lang din. Kasi, yung time na yun, sakto pang pandemic,” said FlapTzy. He spent the majority of his time grinding the ranked ladder climb and drawing the eyes of numerous teams.
“Bigla akong chinat ni kuya Pheww. G daw ba ako mag-[Bren Esports]? Siyempre, may mga iba pang teams na gustong ikuha din ako. Pero mas pinili ko yung [Bren Esports] kasi matagal ko nang kilala si kuya Pheww sa Cignal Ultra. Tapos kaka-champion lang din nila ng SEA Games kaya gusto ko sumali sa kanila.”
A Meteoric Rise
Bren Esports was Coach Ducky, FlapTzy, Pheww, Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, Carlito “Ribo” Jr., and Allan “Lusty” Castromayor Jr — four SEA Games gold medalists, an MPL rookie, and an unproven coach. Aside from that one achievement, this was a team cobbled together from mid-tier players. Again, there was potential here but it was going to take time.
“I knew for a fact that in my head, it’s gonna take years,” said Ducky. “I told [management] it’s gonna take years. I’m not gonna guarantee we’re gonna win a world championship in my first year or even in the next. But we knew what it was gonna take.”
A sensible assessment, but history would head in a different direction from that fair and balanced take.
In the same season their roster was formed, Bren Esports won their first MPL championship, which secured them a spot in the biggest tournament of the year, the M2 World Championship, as the Philippines’ first seed. The team would go on to win that tournament — a historic occasion for Philippine esports, as they became the first-ever Filipino MLBB world champions.
It was a massive achievement for a newly formed team. So much so that, upon reflection, even Pheww and FlapTzy initially didn’t think they could do it. “Hindi pa sobrang malakas yung Philippine meta. Kasi Indonesia meta pa talaga nung time na yon,” said Pheww. “Na-feel ko na kaya namin mag-champion nung nahulog kami sa lower bracket. Parang sobrang dali kami makabawi kahit natalo kami game one. Alam na namin ano yung mali para hindi namin mauulit.”
“Yung scrims namin against sa mga Indonesia at amatuers sa Pilipinas puro talo,” said FlapTzy with a smile. He also mentioned that the quarantine during that time made it difficult for the team to practice. “Nung na 2-0 namin si Alter Ego, sila talaga yung minamatahan namin. Sila at si RRQ Hoshi. Pagkatapos namin tinalo sila na-boost yung confidence namin.”
Ducky felt differently, especially considering his initial caution. “I felt the team was a complete powerhouse. When we made it to M2, I knew that we were going to win a world championship.”
A Catastrophic Fall
What followed from the highest of highs was the lowest of lows. After winning the world championship, Bren Esports returned to a Philippine league that was now more driven and hungrier than ever, inspired by their international success — inspiration that they could not match.
“Pagkatapos ng M2, sobrang feeling-god kami,” said Pheww matter-of-factly. “Sobrang taas nung confidence namin tapos yun, mas madali nakahabol yung ibang teams sa amin.”
“Kumbaga nakaabang na yung mga ibang teams. Palagi nagpra-practice, tapos kami chill-chill lang,” added FlapTzy. The team would coast to a fourth-place finish in season seven but would then spiral all the way down to last place in seasons eight and nine.
It was the “dark ages” for Bren Esports, with the championship roster breaking apart as time went on. Most notable was KarlTzy leaving for ECHO, now known as Team Liquid Philippines. He would eventually win M4, becoming the first two-time world champion with his new team. It was only natural that everyone on the team would think of leaving but in a stroke of serendipity, it would only be the core three who would remain.
“Feeling ko na ayaw na nila akong kakampi,” reflects Pheww. “Pinaramdam kasi nung mga teammates ko na gusto nila ako umalis pero nung nag season nine, sila yung nag-alisan.”
FlapTzy continues by saying that, “Nung time na yun, parang nagkakahiyaan na magsabihan ng mga mali. Parang sinasarili na lang nila yung mga mali na gusto nila sabihin. Hanggang sa sila na lang yung umalis. Kasi ayaw na nila maglaro.”
Players moving in and out of rosters is nothing new in any competitive setting. However, coming down from that kind of peak can create a lot of friction for any team. But, everyone decides to move forward in their own way. For some it’s with searching for greener pastures, for others, it’s with sticking together and seeing things through.
“I was planning to quit because I felt that [the team] was not panning out to what I hoped to be,” admitted Ducky. “We won M2, but right after that, I was questioning myself at that moment. But the management believed in [the team], so I’m happy it worked out eventually.”
Through Thick and Thin
The 2021 to 2022 stretch wasn’t all bad for Bren Esports. Joining them were Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano and Vincent “Pandora” Unigo. Despite entering during the team’s lowest point, these two have stuck with the team to this day. As for Pheww, FlapTzy, and Ducky, they’ve stayed together because beyond knowing how to work together, they’ve come to trust each other.
“Hindi kami nagkakaroon ng internal problems. Kasi kahit na magkaroon ng mga problem sa game, kung in-game lang naman, para sa akin, madali ayusin yun,” said Pheww. “Kung wala naman kayong problema sa isa’t-isa, siyempre mas pipiliin mo yung mas madaling katrabaho.”
“Lahat kami tumatanggap ng criticism,” FlapTzy adds. “Hindi umaabot sa punto na naaapekto yung personal lives namin. Tsaka, malaki rin tiwala namin sa isa’t-isa eh. Kaya di kami nag-iiwan.”
“I think it’s more of a question of experience,” said Ducky upon reflecting on why the team has stayed together for so long. “If you’ve experienced losing and winning again and again, you just shrug it off. Kasi you know that may oras talaga na mananalo and matatalo kayo. Probably those moments where you lose are the moments that you’re not prepared enough. And the moments that you win are definitely the ones where you’re really prepared and mentally ready for it. So I think that’s already ingrained in them, along with all the experiences that they’ve had.”
In season 10, Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson and Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo entered the team. With all the pieces of the current Falcons AP.Bren together, the team could now restart and refocus in earnest. While both seasons 10 and 11 were fourth-place finishes for the team, they were in much better form. Plus, the whole team qualified to represent the Philippines in both the 2023 SEA Games and the IESF World Esports Championships, and that’s where their redemption truly begins.
Building a Legacy
Twenty-twenty-three would be one of the busiest years in Bren Esports history as the team seemingly became globetrotters overnight.
Right as MPL PH season 11 concluded, they were already on their way to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for the 32nd SEA Games. There, they would dominate the competition to earn the Philippines its third MLBB gold medal, with Pheww winning two of them. They couldn’t rest for long, however, as the IESF Asia and Oceania Qualifiers were taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A couple of months after that, it was the World Esports Championships in Iasi, Romania. They would take that tournament as well and barely make it back in time for their first match in season 12 of the MPL PH.
From there, it was a familiar tale: a team of seemingly mediocre players explodes into the scene to win it all. The newly rebranded AP.Bren would take MPL PH season 12 and go on to take the M5 World Championship, held right here in the Philippines — their second-ever MPL title right into becoming the first team to win two world championships. Considering everything else they did in 2023, it’s a much higher peak than their M2 victory. There was a worry that the team might regress, but that was not the case.
“Hindi na naaapekto [yung success] sa akin kasi sobrang dami na namin napanalo,” says FlapTzy. “Kumbaga yung pinaka-main goal na namin ay ayusin pa yung chemistry at laro namin para manalo pa kami ng manalo.”
“Kung paano kaming bilis mag move on sa talo, ganun kaming bilis mag move on sa panalo,” Pheww added. “Kahit nananalo kami, hindi nagiiba yung laro namin. Tapos pagnatatalo kami, konting ayos lang at babalik yung laro namin.”
“There were a lot of issues after M2 and this iteration of Falcons AP.Bren has learned from all those mistakes,” said Ducky. “And like I said earlier, I think the reason why we keep on winning, why we stick together, why we’ve been so dominant, is because of experience. We’ve basically experienced both sides of the game. We know how it feels to be struggling, to be at the bottom of the barrel, and to be on top.”
And even while at the top, the team is showing no signs of slowing down. Twenty twenty-four has yet to conclude and Falcons AP.Bren has already won three international MLBB esports tournaments.
For this squad, they only have one goal: “More championships. Manalo ng manalo hanggang makita namin kung hindi na kaya namin mag-champion,” says Pheww, as if they aren’t already one of the most well decorated teams in the world.
“One step at a time lang,” says FlapTzy. “Kung anumang tournament na sa harap namin, yun yung ifo-focus namin.”
Just like their name suggests, the sky’s the limit for Falcons AP.Bren. They’ve weathered the storm, exceeded their own expectations, and have come out stronger than ever.
“I don’t think there’s a ceiling that other people claim,” Ducky concludes. “The only ceiling is the limit that you place on yourself.”
Text RAMON DOMINGO
Photography EXCEL PANLAQUE
Creative Direction MARC YELLOW and CAS ASEOCHE
Grooming JENNIELYN SANTOS, CRESHIA MAE ADAN, ERIKA ARON INOCENTES, FRANCES KARINA FRIAS of NIX INSTITUTE OF BEAUTY
Official Clothing Partner UNIQLO PHILIPPINES
Sittings Editor ANNIKA CANIZA
Production Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA