ECHO star jungler Karl “Karltzy” Nepomuceno has finally completed his own redemption arc.
Two years after winning the M2 World Championship with Bren Esports along with its MVP citation, Karltzy finally found himself back at the center of the grandest stage in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang professional scene.
“Sobrang saya lang talaga,” said Karltzy who is now the first and only two-time world champion after ECHO demolished erstwhile defending titlist Blacklist International with a 4-0 sweep in the M4 Grand Finals.
His way back to the throne was not the easiest to say the least. In cloud nine after a sizzling performance in the M2 Worlds, he went crashing back to the earth with a series of disappointing runs for the once proud Bren Esports team -- some even pointing at him as one of the reasons for the collapse.
Karltzy's fresh start with ECHO after leaving the lair of the M2 World Champions somehow cultivated the growth and maturity which proved to be an even more valuable asset than his already superb mechanical prowess.
But it still took two full seasons for him to realize what he had promised when he first joined the team. His selfless decision to take a step back, and let his teammates take the spotlight all while putting the team’s success first before his individual honor turned out to be the key in his return to relevance.
Setting the pride aside, he veered away from the usual flashy playstyle with his signature assassin junglers to the much-boring but nonetheless more efficient utility tanks.
Much of the limelight might probably be on the likes of teammates Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya, Benedict “BennyQt” Gonzales and Alston “Sanji” Pabico but it was undeniable that it was Karltzy who made the team stick together.
No one is happier than Karltzy to see his teammates celebrate the victory after all the past heartbreaks, most of which even came at the hands of the same team they defeated for the crown.
“Masarap po kasi sa pakiramdam tapos sobrang lakas po kasi talaga nila, walang nakakatalo sa kanila. Sobrang sarap sa feeling na nanalo kami sa kanila," he added as ECHO finally cut the strings of futility against Blacklist which defeated them in the MPL Philippines Season 10 Grand Finals and the upper bracket finals of the M4 Worlds.
For Karltzy though, his historic feat was made even sweeter by the realization of his promise. It also came as a redeemer of sort, proving he's still one of the bests, and he's a star who can play within a team setting.
“Sobrang saya kasi natupad ko yung promise ko sa kanila na magchachampion kami. Simula nung paglipat ko sa ECHO sinabi ko na sa kanila yun na kahit sino kakampi ko magchachampion tayo,” said Karltzy.