Stowm Comes Back to Where It’s Hardest
Stowm went to Malaysia chasing his big break. Five times, SRG stood in the way. Now he’s back in the Philippines, still looking for it.
Going abroad is supposed to be the upgrade. At least that’s the case in most esports players: Better pay, lighter pressure, a different crowd chanting your IGN. The air feels wider. You can grow without everyone remembering the last time you fumbled a Lord fight.
But coming back to the Philippines? That’s the real test.
For Dale Rolan “Stowm” Vidor, his return to the Philippines was a calculation. The Philippines remains Mobile Legends’ most unforgiving proving ground.
“Actually, medyo split pa rin po sa decision na bumalik sa Pinas kasi nag-eenjoy na rin po ako overseas at isa sa main worries ko, mahirap talaga yung competition dito sa Philippines,” Stowm told ALL-STAR.
We smiled when he said that. He wasn’t pretentious. No romanticism. Just the understanding that home is where the standard is highest and pay is less attractive competitive compared to wealthier regions.
And now, it’s also where he suits up for TNC Pro Team.
Stowm Didn’t Expect SRG Would Stop Them
Malaysia was never meant to be permanent. But Malaysia became comfortable in ways imports rarely admit out loud.
“Masaya, masaya doon eh. Hindi ko na-feel na out of place ako. Kahit first season pa lang, naka-close ko na mga kakampi ko… Talagang na-feel ko na welcome talaga ako.”
For a Filipino player used to the intensity of the local scene, that sense of belonging matters. Overseas stints can feel transactional—perform well, stay; falter, disappear.
But in Malaysia, he found continuity. Teammates who stayed friends. Organizations that kept calling.
It was also where he learned how thin the line is between being strong and being champions.
When their team first faced SRG, the expectation was simple: manageable opposition, predictable results.
Instead, they ran into something else entirely.
“Unexpected talaga na mag snowball sila… Talagang unexpected na ganoon ang maa-achieve ng SRG sa Malaysia,” said Stowm.
“Sa tingin ko, sobrang lakas namin, pero kung dadagdagan namin ng sipag at magandang team culture… siguro iba yung kaya naming ma-achieve… ang championship mindset na sa ngayon, SRG lang ang mayroon.”
It’s the sort of realization players only articulate after distance—after the scrims blur together, after the losses stop feeling random and start feeling structural.
Learning the Difference Between Skill and Staying Power
When he first entered the league, Stowm leaned on what young players always lean on: mechanics, confidence, and the belief that talent naturally sorts itself out.
“Happy-go-lucky lang ako na tiwala sa skills ko.”
Time has a way of sanding that down—not into doubt, but into discipline.
“Ngayon, nakikita ko na yung mga things na kailangan kong gawin at mga habits na kailangan kong i-keep para makasabay.”
It’s the subtle shift from magaling ako to kailangan kong maging consistent. From highlight plays to daily habits. From potential to sustainability.
That’s what this return to the Philippines represents. Not a reset, but a narrowing of focus.
“Big break ang hinahanap ko sa pagbalik ko sa Pilipinas.”
He sees it in this roster, in the teammates around him, in the possibility of finally breaking into the international conversation again.
“Sobrang lakas ng mga kakampi ko at hopefully, makapag EWC kami this season.”
No dramatic manifesto. Just a player who has spent enough time in different jerseys, different countries, different systems to understand what matters now.
For more exclusive esports stories, click here.
