Sanji Doesn’t Want To Be Remembered. But History Will, Anyway
Alston Pabico a.k.a Sanji didn’t play Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) to make history.
In 2017, a young Sanji stumbled upon an ad on Facebook and thought, “Mukhang maganda itong laruin.” That moment marked his first encounter with MLBB — played on a borrowed phone, in secret, while his father was at work.
“Hiniram ko yung cellphone ng tatay ko kapag nagta-trabaho siya para makapaglaro ako,” Sanji said in an exclusive interview with ALL-STAR.
It was just an ad. But little did he know, that fleeting click would set him on the path to becoming the fastest player to conquer all of MLBB’s major tournaments.
Eventually, when his birthday came, he asked for his own phone. Not because he dreamed of going pro, but simply so he could play without limits.
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No Reasons. Just Play
For Sanji, there was never a grand decision to pursue a professional esports career.
“Wala naman talaga akong inspirasyon para i-pursue yung pagiging pro. Nagka-quarantine lang talaga kaya wala akong magawa sa bahay, kaya nakahanap ako ng team noong quarantine,” he revealed.
Like countless others, he turned to gaming during the stillness of lockdown, searching for something to hold on to when the world stopped. That was when he stumbled into his first team, JeffQT’s White Rascals — a step toward destiny he didn’t yet realize he was taking.
Father’s Blood was Thicker than the Noise
Sanji’s rise from amateur to pro carried no trace of drama. There were no sleepless nights spent questioning whether he belonged in the biggest MLBB league.
“Naramdaman ko din na minamaliit ako noong pagpasok ko sa pro noong Season 10 pero wala naman akong pakialam. Kung ano man isipin nila sa akin, maliitin man nila ako, ang gagawin ko lang is lalabanan ko lang sila,” he proudly said.
That confidence had roots at home. His father was a gamer too, and the competitive streak wasn’t new to him. It was part of his upbringing.
“Hindi naman talaga ako kinakabahan sa stage kasi marami akong naging pustahan dati sa ML. Nagmana lang din talaga ako sa tatay ko na gamer din. DOTA nilalaro niya,” Sanji said with a smile.
The Price Behind the Drive
That talent and drive came with a cost. The boy who had always been surrounded by family suddenly found himself in a bootcamp, far from his family.
“Marami ako naging sakripisyo kasi hindi talaga ako sanay na maging malayo sa pamilya ko kasi palagi kaming magkakasama na buo kami. So noong nalaman ko na mag-bootcamp ako, naging challenge siya sa akin kasi mahirap sa kanila ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob ko,” he said.
Still, he endured.
Not Chasing Glory, Just Chasing Stability
After learning from ALL-STAR that he became the fastest player to complete all major MLBB tournaments, he just smiled.
When asked what it means to him, he answered not something an esports player would.
“Wala. Wala naman sa akin iyon,” he said in a straight face.
All he wanted was to earn money.
“Ang gusto ko lang is kumita ng pera kaya gusto ko lang na mag-compete palagi.”
“Hindi naman ako magtatagal sa pro-scene kung hindi ako kumikita ng pera. Kaya gagalingan ko na lang palagi kasi nagi-invest ako sa mga business,” he continued.
And his very first investment with his hard-earned prize money? A computer shop—a place where he and his father could keep playing.
“Nakapagpatayo na po ako ng computer shop,” Sanji proudly added.
“Kahit Huwag Na Nila Ako Maalala”
For Sanji, playing in the professional MLBB scene isn’t about building a legacy or carving his name in the hall of fame. In fact, fame makes him uncomfortable.
“Sa akin naman kahit huwag na nila ako maalala. Kasi ayaw ko rin naman talaga ng kilala ako ng mga tao. Ang gusto ko lang naman talaga is maglaro. Kunwari wala na ako sa MPL, ayoko nang kapag lalabas ako may magpapa-picture,” Sanji said.
“Hindi kasi ako sanay ng ganon. Ginagawa ko na lang is kapag may nagpapa-picture sa akin, gagawin ko na lang silang tropa. Hindi kasi talaga ako sanay na may nagi-idolo sa akin. Gusto ko lang talaga maglaro,” he continued.
And yet, there’s gratitude.
“Pero nakakaramdam naman ako ng gratitude sa kanila kasi parang nakikita ko sarili ko sa kanila. Ako din naman kapag may nakikita akong idol ko, nagpapa-picture din ako, kaya nararamdaman ko rin yung mga nararamdaman nila kapag may nagpapa-picture sa akin,” he added.
A Message to Young Sanji
If he could speak to the younger version of himself — the boy who was borrowing his father’s phone to play MLBB — Sanji wouldn’t warn him about the pressure, the fame, or even the history he’d make.
He would only tell him while smiling, “Ipagpatuloy mo lang maglaro ng ML. Huwag ka nang magdalawang isip na i-tuloy pa iyon kasi maganda ang kakalabasan.”
Saji never even wanted to chase the spotlight. He only chased the game. And somehow, by simply playing, he outran history.
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