Filipino player-coach duo makes waves overseas for top NA CODM team
Carl “Image” Butalid and Kent “Banned” Villarta Nerves proved that Filipinos can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world as they led number 1 North American Call of Duty Mobile team and renowned Mobile esports organization Tribe Gaming to a lopsided win in their first game in the opening of the Call of Duty Mobile Masters Tournament.
The duo wreaked havoc against a hapless Prime Esports squad with Banned providing the brawns enroute to garnering an MVP award while Image brought forth the brains, planning and dishing out strategies for the team.
Photo courtesy of Banned (in-game results)
Tribe easily won 3-0 in their best of five series, issuing a total demolition with the scores of 150-2 in Hardpoint, 6-0 in Search and Destroy, and 150-25 in Domination.
Image, who hails from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, and now resides in Winnipeg City in Canada shared that he attained the classic Filipino traits of hard work and dedication to become successful growing up in Canada. “I bring that competitive fire that we as Filipinos inherit. The most important aspect in the game is mentality. The stronger you are mentally the further you can grow as a person. Here in North America, you need to be able to handle all types of pressure. In many cases you will be forced to step out of your comfort zone to get the job done.”
Photo courtesy of Image Blaines (Tribe Gaming official CODM roster)
Cebuano native and now California-based Banned added that being a Filipino means having that competitive drive and mindset. “Growing up in Cebu has been the most competitive experience I’ve ever had, so transitioning in the US wasn’t hard for me at all. The Filipino pride [grit and toughness, the never-back-down and no-quit attitude] in me has helped a lot and brought me where I’m at today.”
The tournament, which has a prize pool of 50,000 USD, serves as the qualifier for NA teams to the CODM World Championship 2021.
Tribe, who also happens to be the home of CODM content creators iFerg, Hawksnest and Godzly, will be back in action next Monday at 8 PM Eastern time against Unknwnarmy. CODM Masters can be watched live at the official CODM Esports YouTube channel.
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