Pheww, FlapTzy look back on decision to leave AP Bren

MANILA, Philippines — AP Bren (previously known as Bren Esports) has been a staple in the esports community. The chant “BREN lang malakas” had been a battle cry for many, as the team won the first world championship for Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) for the Philippines apart from achievements in other esports titles.

In MLBB, when you talk about Bren, you immediately think of Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel, and David "FlapTzy" Canon, who were part of the team for nearly five years, having won multiple local and world championships. But this season, both players and the entire M5 roster of AP Bren are now under the banner of Team Falcons PH.

"Nag-end na po kasi yung contract namin tapos naghanap kami ng bagong opportunity. Si Falcons papasok na [dito] so kinuha nila kami," Arcangel explained during the preseason media conference for the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 15.

He added that it had been an all-or-nothing scenario for the five-man team, wanting to be signed together or none at all, which seemed to have been the factor that helped keep the M5 Championship roster intact this season.

"Nagkasundo kami ng mga teammates ko [umalis]. Kasi mas priority ko yung teammates ko kaysa sa management, tapos nagkasundo kami na yun yung gagawin namin. Kahit sobrang tagal ko na sa Bren, sinundan ko yung teammates ko kasi bukod sa chemistry namin, yung pinagsamahan namin,” Arcangel told Philstar.com.

For Canon, the decision had initially been a difficult one. But the team's sense of unity was what helped him eventually decide to leave.

"Nung time na nagdedesisyon ako, malungkot po ako kasi sobrang laki na ng nai-ambag namin sa Bre?. Nung una naghehesitate ako kung lilipat ba ako o hindi kasi parang gusto ko mag stay kasi ito yung first team ko and at the same time, gusto ko na ito na rin yung last team ko. Kaso yung mga teammates ko lilipat, eh sila yung kasama ko through ups and downs. Sobrang hirap i-build up nung ganung chemistry ng parang sa amin. Lahat naranasan na namin,” said Canon.

Team Falcons PH will debut in Season 15 at 2:30 p.m. on February 29 against Team Liquid PH.