MLBB: EMANN, JM join Bigetron Alpha

Indonesian MLBB team Bigetron Alpha has acquired two key Filipino players in a bid to strengthen its overall lineup as the first pro season for 2024 kicks off.

Eman “EMANN” Sangco and Jhon Mari “Lord JM” Sebastian will be suiting up for BTR for MPL Indonesia Season 13.

In a Facebook post, Bigetron welcomed the two Pinoy star players last February 4.

The two have a colorful history in the local MLBB pro scene back in the Philippines, as EMANN stayed for five seasons with RSG Philippines. For RSG, EMANN won the MPL Philippines Season 9 Championship and the MSC 2022 Championship.

The also reunited with now-former teammates Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo, Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto, Dylan “Light” Catipon and Arvie “Aqua” Calderon to win the One Esports MPL Invitational in Indonesia last year.

Meanwhile, JM was a Nexplay stalwart, making his pro debut as part of the NXPE Tiger Cubs in MDL Season 1 before moving to what is now Minana EVOS in MPL Season 12. He also played for several tournaments under the Archives Esports banner.

This is not the first instance that Bigetron acquired Filipino players, having had players like Mark “Markyyyy” Carpaccio back in Season 10, and coaches Vrendon “Vren” Lin and Paolo “Pauloxpert” Munsayac, according to a report by PH sports website Tiebreaker Times.

In an interview with Dunia Games Indonesia, Ko Ed, Bigetron’s owner, said that the reason why he brought Filipinos once again to play for Bigetron is because there are no local candidates in Indonesia who is up to the team’s standards.

“The consideration is that locally, we haven’t found a suitable candidate for us. That’s why we need to look at the PH team. I think this is also an opinion or point of view that is shared by other teams in MPL, respectively. Everyone has brought PH players too, except for one or two teams,” Ko Ed told Dunia Games.

He added, “It seems that the (Filipino) players are better in macro terms, in my opinion. Because there are coaches who are more experienced in how to teach them (players) tactics, and macros, because PH seems to have been strong in Dota 2 before, and maybe, that’s what the previous culture carried over, right? Indeed, the coaching is higher, so the players are better.”

Bigetron Alpha placed 3rd in the last MPL Indonesia season.