Coach Trebor: The Unsung Hero of ECHO

Coach Trebor is "The Brains of ECHO" but he shies away from the limelight.
by Mario Alvaro Limos | Jul 12, 2023

PHOTO: Eugene Luciano

There is one man in ECHO who does not like the spotlight. When asked for shoutouts, he often stutters and asks me to delete the first take. “Sir Abo naman kasi, ba’t mo ako pinapa-shoutout! Hindi ako sanay!” he would say. A couple of takes later, he would finally say the words correctly.

Robert Sanchez, aka Coach Trebor, is the shy and unsung hero of ECHO. He is the team’s chief analyst and assistant coach, who is responsible for much of the team’s winning drafts. His stellar drafts or picking of heroes often led to astounding victories that even surprise ECHO’s players.

“Coach Treb, ayos yung draft mo ah!” the players would say when Coach Trebor would select heroes they have not used in their scrimmages.

Coach Trebor during the drafting phase of one of ECHO's matches

Robert Sanchez aka Coach Trebor

Coach Trebor started as a DOTA player when he was 16 years old, and eventually moved to esports when he was 18.

“Wala akong phone na maganda noon. Pinapahiram lang ako ng kaibigan ko. Noong pinahiram niya ako ng phone niya, sabi niya sa akin, maglaro daw kami ng Mobile Legends. Ayun, medyo marunong naman ako kahit galing akong DOTA,” Coach Trebor told SPIN.ph.

Trebor was the assistant coach in ONIC Philippines before he transferred to ECHO. It was Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy who recruited him into ONIC.

'TT Connection': Coach TicTac and Coach Trebor of ECHO

Robert Sanchez aka Coach Trebor

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“Napunta ako sa ONIC Dahil kay Baloy. Naghanap sila ng mga ex-pro na nagda-draft sa line-up, so naalala niya na kakampi ko siya dati sa pustahan. Tinesting nila ako na maging analyst ng ONIC.”

And that actually worked out. In ONIC, Trebor honed his craft as an analyst under the tutelage of Denver Miranda, aka Coach Yeb. ONIC’s Season 9 roster was one of the most feared teams in terms of drafting since Coach Yeb and Coach Trebor would spend sleepless nights analyzing countless matches. If ONIC lost to a team, they would sit down and study the minutest details on the battlefield, down to the smallest gold lead of the enemy. It was this work ethic and discipline that Trebor brought to ECHO after ONIC’s entire S9 roster was disbanded.

“Si Lyan, yung videographer namin sa ONIC, sabi niya, testing ko ito pagpasa sa ECHO ng resume ko. Nakapasok naman. Na-interview ako after three days. Kaya, napasok ako sa ECHO.”

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And it was a fateful partnership. At ECHO, he found a new family.

Coach Trebor’s First Impression of ECHO

Robert Sanchez aka Coach Trebor

At first, Trebor was afraid of ECHO’s Country Manager, Mitch Liwanag, whom he thought was very inclement.

“Si Mitch kasi, akala mo seryoso. Pero kapag nakasama mo, sobrang kulit din! Kaya yung unang impression ko sa kanya, masungit pero hindi naman pala.”

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In terms of handling players, Trebor shares that the best way to get to them is to bond with them.

“Sobrang gaan pagpasok ko sa ECHO. Puro maharot din sila, kaya naka-vibes ko rin sila,” Trebor said.

“Sobrang dali lang din talaga mapasunod ng mga players. Dapat, may pakikisama. Hindi kayo dapat nag-aawaay. Chill lang kayo at mahilig kayong mag-bonding kung ano man yung iba-bonding,” Trebor added.

PHOTO: Eugene Luciano

Coach Trebor Deflects Recognition

Season 10 and Season 11 showcased the masterful drafting by Coach Trebor that often led to victories, and eventually the M4 World Championship and Season 11 MPL Championship. He has even been touted by Liwanag as “ECHO’s Brains.” But in spite of the successes of his drafts, Trebor deflects recognition in favor of the whole team.

“Normal lang naman po (na hindi sa akin napupunta yung recognition,)” Coach Trebor told SPIN.ph. “Kasi minsan talaga, lahat naman po kami, nagda-draft. Kaya may official pickings lang talaga na minsan biglaan, kaya doon lang siguro nake-credit. May mga shot call minsan na, ‘Uy, itong hero na ito, maganda para diyan.’ Yun yung mga hero na hindi pa namin napa-practice na pangontra sa kalaban.”

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But what does Coach Trebor feel on the rare occasions that the spotlight shines on him?

Coach Trebor lets out a shy smile before answering the question.

“Sobrang saya naman po kapag may mga credit na napupunta sa akin. Sobrang gaan sa pakiramdam. Sobrang lumalawak pa po yung pag-iisip ko kapag nake-credit sakin yun. Sobrang thankful po ako kapag may nakakapansin sa akin.”

We asked if he agreed that a team’s victory heavily relies on its drafts.

“Kahit gaano kalakas ang players mo, kung hindi kayo marunong mag-timing ng draft, hindi kayo mananalo.”

Coach Trebor on the Sacrifices of Being a Coach

On a regular day, players of a team start practicing at 1 p.m. and end the day at 10 p.m., having had at least 10 games. But the day is not over for Coach Trebor. Often, he has to analyze what happened in those scrimmages, reviewing the matches over and over and trying to study what plays, equipment, or tactics turned the tide in favor of a team. There are times when he sleeps at 2 in the morning or even later, especially when there’s a tournament.

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It’s not just sleepless nights that Coach Trebor sacrifices for his team.

“Sobrang kailangan natin yung discipline at dedication sa sarili, sa team. Pero sobrang saya pag akyat mo sa backstage at nanalo, lalo na kapag crucial yung laban,” said Trebor.

Robert Sanchez aka Coach Trebor

“Sa tutuusin lang, medyo sobrang pagod din. Akala nila sobrang dali sa esports, lalo na ka sa coaching staff.

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Hindi nila alam mo yung pagod talaga. Pero sobrang sayang pag nananalo talaga,” Trebor added.

‘Ako na lang ang i-bash ninyo.’

Like a true leader, Coach Trebor is adamantly protective of those in his care. To bashers of ECHO’s players, he has one plea: “Ako na lang ang i-bash ninyo.”

That made us wonder, how does Coach Trebor handle bashing?

“Wala naman yun, kasi yung sa mindset namin, pag coach ka, lalo na pag nagkakamali ka ng draft, talagang automatic. Alam mo yung mga kababayan natin, konting mali mo, yun ang nakikita, hindi na yung puro tama. Normal lang sa akin yung tumanggap ng bash kaysa sa player. Pag nabash yung player, mas apektado yung mentality nila. Mas nahihirapan. Hindi ka tulad sa amin, hindi na namin pinapasin yung mga bashing, di katulad sa mga player, scroll sila nang scroll.”

Robert Sanchez aka Coach Trebor

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At the end of the day, the players are young adolescents who were pulled out of the care of their own families and schools. Coach Trebor and the rest of ECHO’s management and coaching staff act as the players’ second parents or guardians, and that is always on their minds when working with them. Coach Trebor always puts the welfare of the players first—a core value of ECHO that is passionately upheld by Mitch Liwanag, ECHO’s Country Manager.

“Sobrang dapat hindi kayo maghigpit sa players. Sobrang kailangan nyo intindihin yung player bago yung sarili nyo para mapasunod niyo talaga sila.”

Coach Trebor’s Piece of Advice to Aspiring Esports Players and Coaches

In the Philippines, there are only eight teams representing the professional esports league of Mobile Legends. That boils down to 10 players per team, with at least two coaches each, or 96 professional esports athletes in total. This is a very small figure considering the millions of aspiring teens hoping for a chance to enter the MPL.

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Coach Trebor’s piece of advice to these hopefuls?

“Disiplina at siguro ano lang, sobrang hintay lang sa panahon. Hindi naman kasi basta-basta makukuha yung ganitong position kung hindi kayo magtiya-tiyaga.”

Coach Trebor

IN THIS FEATURE:
Interview by Abo Limos and Carlos Pineda; Photos by Eugene Luciano; Story by Abo Limos

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PHOTO: Eugene Luciano
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