PART 2: Lexie Yambao, From the Classroom to the Arena

NO ONE could have anticipated the moment Lexie Yambao leaped onto the table, screaming at RSG’s Coach Panda with unrestrained fury. In an instant, that electrifying scene was etched into MPL history, cementing itself as one of the defining moments of Season 13.

“I’m a very emotional person!” Lexie said, laughing at herself when she remembered that iconic moment. 

“At that time when that photo was taken, ECHO yung kalaban namin. Napakahirap talunin ng ECHO noon. Nanalo kami, I had an adrenalin rush. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa table na ako!”

ALSO READ: 

• Part 1: Let Lexie Lead—From Fangirl to Frontline Boss of Twisted Minds
• Coach Arsy Was a Street Vendor. Then He Became a Head Chef

Lexie has come a very long way when she first ventured into esports. But if you ask her how she got into this industry, she would tell you it was unplanned. 

“Parang accident siya. After ko magturo for five years, pagkaresign ko, wala akong ginagawa. May friend ako, sabi niya, i-try mo itong Mobile Legends,” said Lexie. 

But her teacher instincts kicked in. She knew nothing about the game, so she researched by watching MLBB streamers on YouTube. 

“Nakita ko yung mga streamers noon, sina Pein at Coco hanggang sa naging moderator ako. Volunteer work siya, nagko-collect ako ng giveaway winners, nagmo-moderate ako ng mga pasaway sa stream. Apat na devices gamit ko, tapos walang bayad iyon.”

Just like many of us, Lexie started as a devoted fan of MLBB streamers, who sparked her deep dive into the world of esports.

She became so embedded in moderator work that one of BREN’s managers, Jeff Victoriano, recommended her for a post as an administrative assistant. She worked inside BREN’s first boot camp. 

That boot camp set the bar so high for future boot camps in Philippine esports. With multiple gaming rooms, dedicated play areas, unlimited food, and top-of-the-line gear, it was less a boot camp and more a high-end bachelor’s pad built for champions.

“Pagdating ko doon, wow ganito pala talaga, may separate rooms per team. Ang ginagawa ko noon, sa payroll, hawak ko lahat ng teams, sa visa, ako magpo-process, liquidation of receipts. Doon ako nagsimula,” Lexie said. 

That boot camp reinforced just how serious and professional esports could be as a career.

“Nagulat ako kasi may career pala sa esports as pro players,” said Lexie. 

Lexie Yambao: “Sayang daw pinag-aralan ko.”

Lexie came from a family of means. She was third in four siblings, each of whom attended one of the Philippines’ top four universities: UP, Ateneo, La Salle, and UST. 

When her parents learned of her decision to pursue an esports career, they were initially disappointed. 

“Sayang daw pinag-aralan ko,” Lexie told ALL-STAR. 

Lexie spent five years as a grade school teacher, and understandably, her parents worried that stepping away from teaching would mean wasting her degree. This was during a time when esports was still on the fringes, far from mainstream recognition in the Philippines.

“Pero in the long run, napatunayan ko naman na may career talaga sa esports at hindi siya basta-basta,” said Lexie. 

“Sabi sa akin ng parents ko, ano ba makukuha mo diyan eh naglalaro lang iyan, ano makukuha mo?”

Lexie never tried to persuade her family about esports; to them, it was nothing more than just playing around. 

“At that time, hirap na hirap ako idefend yung career dahil sabi nila, sayang daw yung inaral ko, hindi ko naman daw itinutuloy.”

But when they saw Lexie’s team winning championships and her traveling the world with RSG, their doubts began to fade.

“Hinayaan ko lang na makita nila yung mga results ng mga ginagawa ko. Nakita nila na nakaka travel ako with the team, na-invite rin ako sa isang game show sa GMA before. Nagulat sila,” said Lexie.

“Sabi ko, I think I’ve had my share sa course na kinuha ko kasi five years din iyon at hindi biro yung pinagdaanan ko. Siguro time na rin na piliin ko yung choice ko talaga,” Lexie added. 

“The hardest part of being an esports manager is letting go of players.”

More than six years working in esports teams, there is one experience Lexie always finds difficult to handle. 

“The hardest part of being an esports manager is letting go of players,” Lexie said. 

Just in the past season, her whole team was wiped out: RSG Philippines was disbanded. 

“Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, may time na maaattach ka sa kanila. I stay in the boot camp, so I really see their day-to-day lives. Every time na sasabihin ng organization na mag reshuffle or remove a certain player, may kirot sa puso ko,” said Lexie. 

One of the most difficult parts of her job is telling the players they will no longer be with the team.

“Syempre ako rin yung magsasbi… Pero kailangan ko kasi maging matatag para sa players noong time na iyon. Noong January, na-confirm lahat. Everybody was so down.”

* * *

There was a time Lexie was a bad manager. And she admits it. 

“Dati sa RSG noong bago pa ako, lalo na noong nagkakaroon sila ng conflict, nagtatago ako. Nagtatago ako sa isang tabi at hindi ako nagpapakita,” said Lexie. 

She was afraid to face the problems that beset her charges: conflicts with their teammates, family problems, and issues with the game. 

“Natatakot ako! Parang hindi ko kayang harapin sila, hindi ako ready. Pero na-realize kong mali iyon.”

But when RSG won MPL Philippines in Season 9, Lexie felt she did not deserve to be recognized. 

“Noong time na nakita kong nagsa-succeed yung team, sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ko deserve ito kasi wala ako noong times na naghihirap sila.”

That was a turning point in her esports career. She considers it the most valuable lesson she’s learned: Always be present. 

“Na-realize kong mali yung magtago. Paano ako magiging matapang na manager kung magtatago ako, at paano ako magiging handa para tumulong kung iiwasan ko sila?”

“Dapat hindi nangyayari iyon, kasi manager ako. Ako dapat ang nandoon at sumasalo sa kanila kapag may problema.”

Now, Lexie is the country manager of Twisted Minds PH. As she navigates with the team, her leadership philosophy remains clear—be present, be accountable, and always put the players first.

Esports may have started as an unplanned detour for Lexie, but she has since carved out a path of her own, and she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

ALSO READ: 

• Part 1: Let Lexie Lead—From Fangirl to Frontline Boss of Twisted Minds
• Coach Arsy Was a Street Vendor. Then He Became a Head Chef