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    • How ex-MLBB pro Toshi returned to the Honor of the Kings
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    How ex-MLBB pro Toshi returned to the Honor of the Kings

    Online Niel Posted on

    Adrian “Toshi” Bacallo, once a professional core player in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) scene is making waves again, this time in another MOBA title.

    After walking away from competitive gaming and almost walking away from sports entirely, Toshi returns to the battlefield, determined to rewrite his story in Honor of Kings (HoK).

    His rise in the MPL Philippines has been full of promise. Competing from seasons 4 to 8, he earned the respect of fans and players alike. But after a difficult stint with Omega Esports and TNC Pro Team, his career took a downturn.

    Feeling the weight of missed opportunities, Toshi left the limelight behind. “I wasn’t all in then,” he reflects. “I wasted the chance I had.”

    Now, with a new game, new challenges, and a renewed sense of purpose, Toshi is ready for a second shot, and this time, he’s not holding back.

    Toshi almost left his career in sports

    Dominator Esports farm laner Toshi in a press conference
    Credit: ONE Esports

    Toshi began his career as a gold main player for SGD Omega, helping the team to a third place finish in MPL PH Season 4.

    In MPL PH Season 6, under the Smart Omega rebrand, Toshi came close to the championship. But despite their efforts, they could not overcome the power Bren Esportsthe same team that would go on to claim the MPL PH crown and M2 World Championship title.

    After a disappointing run in MPL PH Season 7, Toshi moved to TNC Pro Team the following season, hoping to recapture his spark. But the pace that once made him a standout player eluded him, leaving Toshi feeling out of sync.

    Burdened by missed opportunities and a fading drive, he drifted away from the competitive scene, haunted by what seemed like wasted potential.

    Courtesy of Kings Dominator Esports
    Credit: ONE Esports

    For a while, he even considered leaving sports altogether. “I went back to school, studying criminology in Tarlac. I thought maybe my sports career was over,” he said.

    However, the lure of competition never left him. Just when it seemed like his story was over, fate threw him a curve ball.

    His former manager introduced him to HoK and told him that the game would be a hit. With regrets weighing heavily on his mind, Toshi decided to make one last shot at redemption.

    Go all-in on a new dream in another mobile MOBA title

    Honor of the Kings Dominator Esports 2 team
    Credit: ONE Esports

    With a sense of unfinished business, Toshi didn’t just change games, he left the Philippines altogether, signing with Dominator Esportsa sports organization based in Indonesia.

    It was his first time playing abroad. “It wasn’t easy being away from home,” he admits. “I miss the Philippines so much, especially Jollibee. No sauce here,” he jokes.

    But homesickness was only part of the adjustment. Moving from MLBB to HoK meant adapting to a different type of game. “In ML, you could play the game yourself if you were good enough,” explains the Filipino pro. “But in HoK, you can’t win alone. Everyone must move as one unit. It’s all about teamwork.”

    Now, the Filipino pro is committed to seeing his redemption with HoK. “This time, I’m complete,” he says. “In ML, I didn’t fully commit. But now, I give it everything I have. This is my arch of salvation.”

    For him, the future is uncertain, but he is not looking back. “For now, I’m focusing on HoK. This is where I am and this is where I belong.”

    READ MORE: A new MOBA era: what Honor of Kings sports could look like in the near future

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