FAMILY isn’t always about blood ties. Sometimes, it’s the people who walk beside you when the road to your dreams turns uncertain—those who stay even when the future offers no guarantees.
That truth perfectly captures the bond between Coach Rodel “Arsy” Cruz and Clarisse “CLA” Cordova.
Today, both stand as gold and silver medalists of the Philippines at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games — a moment that feels less like coincidence and more like destiny fulfilled.
But long before the achievements, national jerseys, and international stages, this milestone was nothing more than a shared dream—one built on sacrifice, trust, and an unwavering belief in each other.
Humble beginnings
Many great journeys begin in the simplest ways, and for Coach Arsy and CLA, theirs started in the amateur scene with Mistah Esports in 2023.
They trained in a humble bootcamp, sharing cramped rooms and limited resources. Food was split, comforts were sacrificed, and certainty was nonexistent—but their passion never wavered.
READ: SIBOL Men complete golden four-peat in SEA Games MLBB
“Magkakasama lang kami noon sa kwarto, tabi-tabi kami dati para lang kaming magkakapatid, or mga anak. Hati-hati kami sa pagkain, tapos hindi sobrang garbo,” Coach Arsy recalled in an exclusive interview with SPIN.ph.
Coach Arsy also made a life-changing decision.
He left his job as a chef—a stable job many would never abandon—to fully commit to coaching a women’s MLBB team that few believed in.
“Naalala ko kasi noon, hindi pa kami magkakasama noon, chef pa ako noon eh. Tapos, nakitaan ko na sila ng potential lahat noon, sa players ko. Dumating ako sa point na sobrang mahal ko ‘yung ginagawa ko, iniwan ko ‘yung trabaho ko para mag-invest doon sa female team na hinahawakan ko, which is sila CLA,” he told.
For CLA, joining Mistah Esports was a leap of faith. She entered the scene without guarantees, driven only by the hope that her passion and skill would one day be recognized.
Talents recongize talent
Coach Arsy immediately saw something special in CLA — not just mechanical skill, but also sharp game sense and character.
“Si CLA ‘yung kauna-unahang gold lane na nakita ko talaga na sobrang laki ng potential,” he explained. “Iba siya gumalaw. Nakakaisip siya ng mga meta at counter heroes na kadalasan sa men’s scene mo lang nakikita.”
What neither of them realized at the time was that those early days—filled with uncertainty and sacrifice—would eventually open doors neither could have imagined.
The unbreakable bond
Life has a way of pulling people in different directions—but sometimes, it also finds a way to bring them back together.
In December 2023, Coach Arsy accepted an opportunity with Myanmar’s Falcon Esports. The move brought him to the MSC 2024 in Riyadh and later the M6 World Championship in Malaysia. By 2025, he returned to the Philippines to join Team Liquid PH.
READ: Silver for SIBOL Women as they fall to Malaysia in 7-game affair
CLA’s journey unfolded along a different path, but no less impressive. She was discovered by SMFE in 2024, eventually joining Team Liquid PH’s female roster in 2025 and representing the country at MWI 2025 during the Esports World Cup.
Mistah Esports—once their shared home—slowly crumbled down as each member pursued their own calling.
“Kinuha niya ‘yung opportunity sa Falcons, iniwan niya kami noong time niya na ‘yun sa Mistah. Ok lang naman sa amin kasi big opportunity ‘yun. Pero simula nun, nagkawatakwatak na kami, nagkahiwalay-hiwalay na po kami ng team,” CLA said, perfectly understanding the career decision of Coach Arsy back then.
Yet even as teams changed and careers advanced, something between them remained untouched.
“Pamilya na po ‘yung turingan namin sa isa’t isa. Kami-kami lang din ‘yung nag ko-comfort sa isa’t isa. Sobrang komportable ko po sa kanila. Kahit nasa ibang team na ako, nandito pa rin sila sa puso ko,” CLA expressed.
For Coach Arsy, he could not be more proud watching CLA grow from a nervous amateur into a confident world-caliber player.
“Ngayon, para sa akin, sobrang laki na ng kompiyansa ni Clarisse sa sarili niya. Dati masasabi ko, kabado pa siya tapos tilted pa siya sa mga stage and hindi pa siya sobrang confident sa sarili niya. Ngayon, iba, sobrang nag-go-glow siya,” Arsy pointed out.
“Sobrang saya and sobrang proud na proud na proud ako sa kaniya kasi alam ko rin ‘yung pinagdaanan ni Clarisse. Ang dami niya sinakripisyo and hindi rin ganoon kaganda ng buhay niya and pag-aaral niya. Kahit wala siyang kinikita sa dati, talagang pinupusuan niya ‘yung passion niya na balang araw talaga matutupad ‘yung pangarap niya. So, sobrang proud talaga ako kay Clarisse,” he added.
Words to the dreamers they once were
If given the chance to speak to the versions of themselves who once trained in cramped rooms with uncertain futures, Coach Arsy’s message remains simple—keep going.
“Clarisse, ipagpatuloy mo lang kahit sobrang hirap na ng pinagdadaanan mo, balang araw matutupad mo ‘yung pangarap mo. Naniniwala ako sayo na ‘yung potential na nakikita ko sayo, hindi ako magkakamali. Kaya ilaban mo lang,” Coach Arsy told SPIN.ph.
He offered the same compassion to his younger self.
“Ituloy mo lang kahit sobrang hirap din ng napagdaanan mo, kahit na tingin mo walang direction ‘yung buhay mo, lumaki kang walang magulang, tapos malayo sa mga kapatid mo, straight forward pa rin ‘yung goal mo sa buhay na umangat ka at may mapatunayan ka. Keep fighting lang kasi balang araw matutupad mo ‘yung pangarap mo,” he added.
Today, Coach Arsy and CLA stand on the SEA Games stage not just as a coach and a player, but as living proof of what belief, sacrifice, hard work, and a strong support system can create.
From sharing meals in a cramped bootcamp to representing the Philippines, their journey has come full circle.
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