TEAM LIQUID Philippines has been immortalized after winning the MPL Philippines Season 15, and behind their triumph was a figure who cooked the perfect ingredients together for championship glory—Head Coach Rodel “Arsy” Cruz.
Beyond brilliant tactics and high-level mechanical skills, for Coach Arsy, what are champions truly made of that a playbook cannot teach?
“Puso lang talaga, tiwala sa sarili, at tiwala sa mga kakampi,” Coach Arsy said to SPIN.ph.
The proverb “There's a rainbow after a storm” perfectly encapsulates Coach Arsy’s breakthrough season with Team Liquid PH.
Looking back just a few months ago, Coach Arsy endured a heartbreaking M6 World Championship exit with Falcon Esports, and the news of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand hit him hard, especially knowing his former teammates were affected.
Myanmar seems to hold a special place in Coach Arsy’s heart; why is that?
“Nung nag-champion kami ng isang beses, sobrang minahal ako ng mga tao sa Myanmar. Parang lagi nila akong pinapadalhan ng gift tapos ayaw nila akong umalis sa Falcon. Parang naramdaman ko na family nila ako. Naging family ko rin naman yung Falcon Esports kaya nakapag-decide ako na yung 50% yung bibigay ko rin sa Myanmar,” he said.
Falcon Esports' successful run in the 2024 MLBB Mid-Season Cup and M6 World Championship Myanmar qualifiers was all it took for Coach Arsy to gain the respect of the local MLBB community.
He discovered a new home in Myanmar, where the local community welcomed him with the love and respect he deserves.
True to his words
He promised to donate 50% of his winnings if he won the MPL championship—and now, Coach Arsy is set to reciprocate the love he received.
“Yung sa org ko na Falcon Esports, meron po silang charity po. So kapag na-receive ko na rin po yung prize ko, yung 50% ko, mag-da-direct flight ako doon, then ibibigay ko po sa Myanmar,” he explained.
Two months ago, he made a promise without knowing if he’d actually take home the MPL PH title and grand prize—but in the end, the universe aligned for his sincere intentions.
“Nothing is impossible talaga kasi nung pagpasok ko sa Team Liquid, di ko tinitignan yung sarili ko na parang kaya ko sumabay sa mga high-caliber na coach, kila Coach Tony, Coach BON CHAN, yung mga talagang legends na pagdating sa ML. Ayun, parang pinalakas lang nila yung loob ko, kailangan mo lang mag-improve, and ayun sinubukan ko. Then ito, nag-champion kami,” Coach Arsy reflected.
Coach Arsy is ready to take on a new challenge with Team Liquid PH, setting sights on winning the MSC championship at Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh. What can supporters expect from him this time?
“Ang maipa-promise ko lang, ibibigay namin yung best namin and hindi kami papayag na hindi natin maiuuwi yung trophy,” he expressed.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
