From Rejects to Royalty: Why Malaysia Embraced These Filipino Talents
M7 host Rose sheds light on how Malaysia embraced what other countries and teams overlooked.
When Malaysian media reached out to ALL-STAR to say that an article about Kramm had gone viral in their country, the reaction was unexpected. But in hindsight, it was deeply telling.
In previous features, Kramm spoke candidly about displacement, identity, and the lingering pull of home. As a Filipino import playing for a rival country, it can’t be helped that Kramm’s countrymen would cheer against him. But despite the lack of affection from his nation, he admitted he still wants to play for the Philippines.
We reached out to Filipino-Malaysian host of MPL Malaysia and M7 World Championship Rose to better understand the situation. According to Rose, that context mirrors how Selangor Red Giants or SRG itself was first seen in Malaysia.
“Okay I think this is something that we need to shed light on,” Rose told ALL-STAR.
“SRG came in as a team that had a bunch of what people would say as ‘rejects’ when they were formed. Yums was ditched by Todak, Innocent and Kramm they left the Philippines and they weren’t doing good. Nobody really wanted to take them in.”
What Malaysian fans witnessed, Rose explained, was not a ready-made superteam but players rebuilding from the margins.
“But when they came to Malaysia, we could all see how humble they were, everybody saw how they are all very hardworking.”
That humility became central to SRG’s rise. After capturing their first MPL Malaysia title, the perception shifted entirely.
“And then they won their first MPL championship, and then the Malaysians actually really loved them.”
That affection only deepened after SRG claimed its first international title, an achievement that resonated beyond results.
Malaysians Gave Innocent and Kramm Their Own Malay Names
“And then they proceed to win their first-ever international tournament, the Malaysians loved them even more that the Malaysian community kind of gave them their own Malay name. For Innocent, they call him Muhammad Esan, and then for Kramm, they call him Muhammad Ikram.”
For Kramm, whose earlier interviews traced the emotional weight of leaving the Philippines and the uncertainty of starting over, that gesture reflects something larger than fandom: Acceptance.
Rose emphasized that this connection is visible week after week during the MPL Malaysia season.
“They’re very loved in Malaysia. Whenever they do livestreams, you can see the amount of support that comes in.”
Offline, the affection becomes even more tangible.
“Every time after a match, the fans bring gifts. A lot of gifts. There would be flowers, chocolates, Popmarts, anything that the players enjoy.”
And it doesn’t stop.
“And that happens after every match, and we have six weeks of MPL MY, and it’s nonstop.”
In earlier ALL-STAR stories, Kramm spoke about the idea of “coming home,” not just geographically, but emotionally. Rose’s perspective helps explain why those stories resonated in Malaysia: SRG’s Filipino players are no longer seen as imports or outsiders, but as part of the local esports fabric.
Once labeled “rejects,” they are now embraced, named, celebrated, and carried by a community that chose to believe in them when few others did.
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