Why Are MPL Teams Scrambling to Recruit Carlo Roma?
Everyone in the MPL is anticipating the rise of Carlo Roma.
Even before he was drafted into Sibol’s SEA Games lineup for MLBB, MPL teams were already scrambling to recruit Carlo Roma, the talented roamer from MDL’s ONIC Nine Lives.
“That kid plays really well, a lot of teams want to recruit him,” a highly placed source told us.
Carlo Roma, still remembers the first time he got hooked on Mobile Legends. He was in high school, peeking over the shoulders of classmates tapping away during breaks.
“Noong una po kasi, trip-trip lang kasi mas naka-focus ako sa school noon,” he told ALL-STAR. But the game—its pace, the thrill of 5v5 battles—pulled him in.
Now 21 and known across the amateur scene as Caloy, Roma is the name on everyone’s lips in the MPL offseason. “Na-brief po sa akin na ang daming kumukuha,” he says, referring to tryouts and offers from some of the league’s top teams. “Pero hindi naman po sinayang ang opportunity. Nag tryout po ako sa lahat.”
Why the scramble? It’s not just because Roma is good. Lots of players are. It’s because he’s consistent. In high-stakes tournaments like the MDL, he proved he could go toe-to-toe with former MPL vets—and beat them.
That’s why when the national esports team Sibol came looking for players, Roma made it on their final list.
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Caloy’s competitive run began with Metro NEU, where he started gaining attention in local and regional amateur tournaments. It was in those early days—when prize pools were small and matches were streamed on patchy connections—that he first showcased his sharp map awareness and clutch teamfight timing, especially when fielded as a roaming tank or support.
He was the kind of player who would call the game-winning Lord dance or isolate an enemy core at just the right time. He wasn’t flashy, but he was smart. Coaches noticed. So did scouts.
When Metro NEU folded its roster, Caloy took the leap to ONIC’s development team: ONIC Nine Lives.
The MDL Miracle
ONIC Nine Lives were never supposed to be champions. They were the league’s youngest roster and not heavily favored when MDL Philippines Season 5 began. But the team, built around Caloy’s leadership and synergy, steadily climbed the standings. Caloy showcased a versatile hero pool.
The team peaked at just the right time. In the MDL Grand Finals, Nine Lives went up against powerhouse squads with former MPL veterans. Caloy’s precision shotcalling and macro reads turned ONIC Nine Lives from underdogs into champions.
“Nag-grind kami para maging malakas kami, at napatunayan namin na kaya naming sumabay,” he says.
The community took notice. So did the national team. And the MPL’s most decorated teams.
The Sibol Call-Up
When Roma got the call that he made the Sibol roster—the official Philippine team competing internationally—he thought it was a mistake.
“Hindi ko po inexpect na ako po ang kukunin,” he says. “Yung tatlong teams po kasi doon ay MPL teams… kami lang po, ONIC Nine Lives, kaka-champion lang po namin sa MDL.”
It was validation not just of his skills but of the grassroots pipeline he came from.
That call-up solidified what insiders already knew: Caloy was ready for the next level.
Family, Sacrifice, and That P2 Million Prize
The youngest of three brothers, Caloy says his parents were initially against the idea of esports.
“Gusto matupad ang pangarap mo, mag focus ka sa school,” he says.
But instead of walking away, he used their doubts as fuel.
He climbed the amateur ranks, bit by bit, until his team won a major tournament with a P2 million prize pool. Each player earned P200,000.
“Ang ginawa ko po, P100k sa magulang ko, P100k sa akin,” he says.
Today, he still gives half his tournament winnings to his family. It’s a far cry from the boy who used to sneak into computer shops.
Carlo Roma: From “Trip-Trip Lang” to the Big Leagues
“Ito na po naging passion ko,” Caloy says, reflecting on the last four years. From discovering MLBB out of boredom during the pandemic to becoming one of the most sought-after prospects in the scene, his journey mirrors the dream of many.
He once wanted to serve the country as a police officer. Today, he wears a different kind of uniform. “Na-realize ko na nagsisilbi na ako sa Pilipinas through esports,” he says.
For MPL teams desperate for a strong shotcaller with the discipline of a vet and the hunger of a rookie, Roma is a rare find. He’s already shown he can lead a team, grind through adversity, and rise to the moment.
The question now isn’t whether Carlo Roma will make it to the MPL. The question is: Which team will get to call him theirs?
