KUALA LUMPUR: Team SMG's Deomark "Mikko" Tabangay has filial reasons to do well in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) M5 World Championship Wild Card round.
The Filipino joined SMG in August but the team were stunned by Homebois 4-3 in the grand finals of season 12 of the Mobile Legends Professional League Malaysia in October.
However, it's now the road to redemption for SMG in the Wild Card tournament, as a win will give the Malaysian side a berth in the M5 World Championship which offers a combined prize pool of US $900,000 (RM4.18mil) in Manila, from Dec 2-12.
The 22-year Mikko is aiming to return home with the wildcard win and the chance to finish top of the podium as the lucrative prize money could ease his family's situation.
He needs to cover the costs of his parents' medical treatment. His father is seeking treatment for an enlarged heart, while his mother had surgery recently.
Despite the huge burden on his shoulders, Mikko keeps a smile on his face and is focused on helping his "Malaysian family" in the wild-card round.
Joining SMG with compatriots Kenneth "Saxa" Fedelin from TNC Pro Team and coach Paolo "Pao" Villanueva made it easier for him. The trio also blended well with Malaysians — Aeliff "Smooth" Arif, Wan "Subway" Sakirin, Hazziq "Stormie" Rizwan, Lu "Sasa" Khai Bean.
"My father is on medicine and my mother had an operation, they are OK, I keep in touch with them. I hope we can win the wildcard round and play in the M5 World Championship in Manila, next month," said Mikko.
"It has been good for me in Malaysia, the team is like a family here, so we have fun.
"I hope we can do well in Manila in the World Championship and have a good Christmas celebration.
"We all hang around together when we are not training or playing in tournaments.
"I do miss home at times, especially Adobo (a Filipino delicacy) which we cannot get in Malaysia but Mamak food like Nasi Goreng and Maggi Goreng with telur mata kerbau, come close to fill the gap."
SMG, who are the huge favourites to reach the final and earn one of the berths to the World Championship, kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 win over Laos' Niightmare Esport 2-1 in their Group A opener yesterday.
Their remaining matches are against 4Merical Esports of Peru (Nov 24) and Saudi Arabia's Falcons (Nov 25).
"We are confident of doing well but every team here is strong. We had a good start winning the first match but it was not easy," said Mikko.
"We talked about the match and identified our errors, we will improve our communications and we will be ready for the remaining matches."