LONG before Aurora Gaming PH’s Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto lifted the M7 World Championship trophy in Jakarta, he had to endure sleepless nights while jumping from one lesson to another, be it from wins or setbacks.
Thankfully for him, there’s one person who turned out to be his rock during the times while shaping him to be the player, and the person, that he is today.
And that was his former RSG PH head coach, Brian “Panda” Lim.
READ: Uncrowned kings no more: Yue, Domengkite savor coronation at M7
“Kung meron man akong tatay sa esports, si Coach Panda ‘yun. Outside the game, lagi ako lumalapit sa kaniya, lagi akong nanghihingi ng advice, sa love life, or personal things. Sobrang bait ni Coach Panda, parang tatay ko na talaga siya kasi sobrang close kami,” Demonkite told SPIN.ph in an exclusive interview.
“Kapag may problema ako, takbo ako sa kaniya. Kapag may hindi ako alam, sasabihin ko agad sa kaniya.”
Back when RSG Philippines was still finding its identity around MPL Philippines Season 8 and 9, Demonkite and Coach Panda were more than just a player and a coach—they were teammates-turned-family building a dream from the ground up.
In a humble bootcamp situated at the house of popular streamer and influencer Elyson “GHOST Wrecker” Caranza, Demonkite and Panda built that bond – a bond which transcended the usual player-coach relationship, to a more familial one as time went by.
There was even a moment when Coach Panda gave his own iPad to Demonkite – cause even back then, Panda had seen something in the stalwart jungler especially with the latter’s decision making and strategic mastery.
Together, they claimed the MPL Philippines Season 9, MSC 2022 (MLBB Southeast Asia Cup) - one of the region’s most prestigious international competitions - and the MPL Invitational 2023—though, as always, even the best chapters reach an end.
When RSG PH’s franchise four-year run formally ended in January 2025, their paths diverged.
Demonkite continued his professional journey with Aurora Gaming PH, chasing titles and carving his legacy. Coach Panda, meanwhile, moved to South Korea, stepping away from the MPL spotlight to focus on his family and a completely different career.
But despite going their separate ways, Panda has already shaped Demonkite into the world champion that he will be with the Northern Lights – from the technicalities of the game, to the discipline and attention to detail an elite MLBB pro-player must possess.
“Ang natutunan ko sa kaniya, if you’re really passionate sa game, ‘yung mga maliliit na bagay papansinin mo,” Demonkite shared.
“May nakalimutan ka lang in-game, tapos naging repetitive na siya. Kung kay Coach Panda ‘yun, isang mali pa lang, pansin niya na agad ‘yun. Ayun ‘yung natutuhan ko kay Coach Panda na, kumbaga, more into small details na hindi dapat palagpasin kasi ‘yun ‘yung nagiging malaki ang impact sa game,” he added.
Years later, those lessons continue to bear fruit.
When Demonkite finally lifted the M7 trophy with Aurora Gaming PH, Coach Panda was no longer on the stage beside him, but the discipline, composure, and attention to detail remained evident in his championship run.
Whether their paths will cross again remains uncertain. Perhaps one day they will reunite under the same banner, perhaps not.
Regardless of what happens, one thing is certain: somewhere behind Demonkite's M7 championship glory stands a coach who believed in him from day one.
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