Yawi’s Redemption: From the Bench and Back Again
For an entire year, Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera found himself in the shadows, benched and waiting for a moment that never came. From being a key player in ECHO’s dominant run to spending an entire season on the sidelines, the experience was nothing short of frustrating.
“Ang hirap kasi alam mong kaya mo pa,” Yawi shares. “Pero minsan, malas lang talaga. Wala kang magagawa, kaya kahit benched ako, tuloy pa rin ang grind.”
The hardest part wasn’t just sitting out—it was the helplessness.
“Wala ka ring magagawa,” he says. “Kailangan mong tanggapin, kailangan mong mag-move forward.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
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A Fresh Start with TNC
After a long season of uncertainty, Yawi is back on the main stage—this time, with TNC.
“Hinding-hindi ko inisip na mawawalan ako ng chance makabalik,” he says. “Alam kong kaya ko pa.”
With MPL Season 15 marking a fresh start, Yawi sees this as his comeback season. More than just proving himself, he wants to help elevate his new team.
“Yung TNC laging top 8 di ba? Tapos lumipat ako dito. Yung mga kakampi ko mga bagong lipat din pero hindi ako nahirapan mag adjust kasi halos lahat kilala ko na,” he said.
Despite initial doubts, Yawi took a leap of faith when TNC’s management approached him.
“Noong una, hindi ako sigurado,” he admits. “Pero noong nakita ko ‘yung lineup at nakausap si Boss D, naisip ko—baka ito ‘yung chance para mailabas lahat ng hindi ko nagawa last season.”
Solving the TNC Puzzle
TNC’s struggles in past seasons are no secret. While talented players have come and gone—many finding success elsewhere—the team has yet to break into the league’s upper echelon.
“Malalakas naman ‘yung mga dumaan sa TNC,” he analyzes. “Pero parang may kulang. Siguro kailangan lang timplahin nang maayos.”
This season, Yawi believes TNC finally has the right mix. More than just mechanics and strategy, he’s bringing a different kind of energy to the team.
“Pampalakas ng loob at energy,” he says, elaborating on what he brings on the table. “Ibu-boost ko ‘yung morale ng team, lalo na sa stage.”
The Road to Redemption
For Yawi, this season is personal. After a year of doubts, he is ready to reclaim his place as one of the league’s elite.
“Comeback season ko ito,” he says. “Sobrang daming nagda-doubt sa akin, kaya mas namo-motivate akong patunayan ‘yung sarili ko.”
Winning a championship with TLID was a reminder of what he’s capable of, but he knows there’s nothing like the thrill of competing in MPL.
“Mas maganda pa rin ‘yung feeling kung nakapaglaro ka,” he says. “Kaya papatunayan ko, hindi lang para sa sarili ko kundi para sa pamilya ko. Lalo na ngayon, dito na ulit ako sa Pilipinas, kung saan malalakas ang teams.”
With a new team and a new mindset, Yawi is done waiting. The stage is set for his comeback—and he’s ready to remind everyone why he’s not yet ready to be written off.
