Only 2% Believed in Falcons. How Did a World Champion Roster Become ‘Underdogs’?
By Jan Marcus Montevirgen
One more win.
That’s all Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel and Team Falcons PH need to secure a triumphant return to the Esports World Cup and reclaim their lost MSC glory.
On Friday night, the Falcons sent shockwaves through the MPL Philippines community with a stunning 3-0 sweep over heavy favorites Aurora in the lower-bracket semifinals of Season 15. It was a victory no one saw coming — except for the faithful few.
Before the playoffs kicked off, Aurora was pegged as the championship frontrunner, earning a massive 42% of the fan votes. Team Falcons? A mere two percent.
But that tiny sliver of belief was all they needed.
“Unang-una sa lahat, thankful kami ‘don sa two-percent na nag suporta sa amin. Parang maganda din sa morale namin na natalo namin yung ine-expect nilang mag-champion, lalo na sila yung [isa] sa mga top-seed [na teams]. ‘Tas hindi namin sila natalo noong regular season,” Pheww said.
For Pheww and the Falcons, this isn’t unfamiliar territory. In fact, it feels all too familiar. Back in Season 11, even after finishing first in the regular season standings, they were still cast as underdogs.
“Parang noong time na nabuo yung team namin, parang wala naman nage-expect sa amin kahit kami yung nag-top one sa regular season, noong Season 11, ‘di pa rin nila ine-expect na magchampion kami,” Pheww said.
That sense of being overlooked has become fuel for the team’s fire.
“Feeling ko kase ngayon, underdogs kami,” Pheww told ALL-STAR.
“Kaya as underdogs gusto namin patunayan sa lahat lalo na sa two percent na nagtiwala sa amin na kaya namin makipagsabayan sa top three teams,” he added.
At 25 years old, Pheww’s leadership has been pivotal in keeping the squad focused, especially as they inch closer to the MSC slot. Reflecting on the difference between their current run and their last MSC journey, he was candid.
“Noong last MSC run namin noon, galing kami ng World Champion, kaya ine-expect pa rin ng mga tao na mag-champion kami sa MSC. Pero ngayon walang nage-expect na makakapag-MSC kami dahil sa mga team ngayon eh, lalo na sobrang lakas ng mga top four teams ngayon, yung ONIC Philippines, Aurora, tsaka Team Liquid Philippines,” he reflected.
And yet, here they are — one step away from MSC.
To seal the deal, Team Falcons PH will have to defeat Team Liquid PH in a high-stakes best-of-seven series. Their last encounter ended in heartbreak, with Liquid eking out a narrow 3-2 win. But Pheww believes this time will be different.
“Feeling ko dapat ituloy lang namin yung mga nagawa namin ngayon kase naayos na namin yung mga nagawa naming error noon tapos feeling ko mas confident yung laro namin ngayon, compared sa mga dating laro namin sa Liquid,” he concluded.
