MORE THAN THE GAME

MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND MPL

- Gabriel Pe

There is a massive misconception that esports is all about the players and coaches and the team that’s out to win it all. For many, esports is about kids playing video games and winning a ton of money. It also doesn’t help that mainstream coverage of esports initially focused on the prize pool and the players.

But it’s more than that. Esports is a community of gamers, a community of individuals striving to make their passion a living, thriving industry. Beyond the stream and the glamor, there is a world of stories that need to be heard.

Becoming the voices behind the play

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Pro League – Philippines (MPL-PH) is the country’s fastest-growing esports league. Now in its 10th Season (5th Year), the league has grown to staggering heights. Growing with it are its shouted casters who shared their own stories in a recent press conference.

One of the most well-known and passionate casters in the local Mobile Legends scene is Mark Adrian “Butters” Jison. Esports wasn’t a recognized career path when he was just starting in the early 2010s.

“My parents were one hundred percent against my career. They were telling me, ‘You have a degree; why don’t you use it? Why are you sticking with that?’ There was even one time I was almost kicked out of the house. They didn’t like the idea,” he recalls. “On my graduation day, I had to cast. I asked my mom to please understand I need to shoutcast because this is what I want to do.”