AP Bren's Pando shares lessons learned throughout esports career

MANILA, Philippines – Before venturing into esports, Vincent "Pandora" Unigo focused on getting good grades, making it to his school's basketball varsity team, and fulfilling his dream of becoming an engineer.

"Yung buhay ko dati bago ako mag esports, academic achiever ako. Naka-focus lang talaga ako sa grades ko, mine-maintain ko na mataas ang grades ko. Varsity rin ako noong high school, sa basketball," Unigo recalled in an interview with members of the Philippine Esports Press Corps.

All that changed when he and his cousins tried their hand at esports, travelling to far areas until eventually forming a team to compete in Mobile Legends Bang Bang.

"Dumadayo talaga kami, nakakalaban namin yung mga pro players ng League of Legends dati. Pero saktuhan lang kami doon, mga top 2 lang yata pinakamataas namin. Yung squad namin, K10 Gaming, magpipinsan kami doon, nag-season po kaming limang magpipinsan sa Mobile Legends," shared Unigo.

Included in the team is Unigo's cousin and AP Bren's roamer Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo.

At the time of his stint with K10 Gaming, life had been rough for Unigo, and these challenges helped him become the player he is today.

"Umabot kami sa point na parang pahirap na kami. Pero hindi kami nag-give up ng brother ko as a team, magka-team kasi kami at esports player din siya. Nag-focus at nagtiwala kami sa Mobile Legends," added Unigo.

From K10 Gaming, Unigo would move to SV Empire until he signed with then BREN Esports back in 2022. He would then recommend his cousin for the roamer role and would join the team months later.

And while AP Bren exchanged their usual team colors of yellow and black for red, white and blue as they played under the banner of the country's national esports team Sibol, Unigo took a step back to allow his teammates to grow as a roster while they competed around the globe in multiple tournaments.

"Noong unang nag-compete kami for Sibol, na-gets ko nang hindi na talaga ako makakapaglaro, kasi kailangan din nila eh. Saka yung scenario na ganoon, na if ever ako maglaro [sa MPL], tapos biglang nanalo, sabi ko mahihirapan lang din sila sa Sibol," shared Unigo.

Though he was not part of the national team, he was able to fly with them as Sibol competed in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last year.

He adds, "Hindi ko siya tine-take na parang masama o masakit sakin kasi parang, nandoon naman yung pinsan ko tsaka yung team ko, part pa rin naman nila ako. Pinakagusto ko kay Boss Jab Escutin kasi sinagot niya yung pang-Cambodia ko noon para suportahan yung SEA Games. Hindi talaga nila ako nakalimutan."

That sense of camaraderie is what Unigo believes is the biggest lesson he learned throughout his esports career.

"Kahit sobrang galing mo, sobrang talented mo, kung hindi ka marunong makisama sa mga tao sa paligid mo, hindi lang sa teammates mo kundi pati na rin sa mga taong nakakausap mo, mabilis ka lang din mawawala," shared Unigo.

Unigo and AP Bren ended the regular season of the current MPL Philippines as top seed and will have an upper bracket advantage in the playoffs slated from May 22-26 at SM Southmall.