Yawi dedicates M4 World Championship ticket to ever-supportive mom

Visibibly in tears after leading Echo to a 3-1 conquest of RSG Philippines in the MPL Philippines Season 10 lower bracket finals, Tristan "Yawi" Cabrera rushed to the audience side to hug his mom, Merly Ducenas Cabrera, in celebration of their momentous qualification to the M4 World Championship.

Echo's star roamer couldn't help but express deep gratitude to his mom who supported him through the ups and downs of his career.

"Sabi ko po 'Thank you sa pagiging sobrang supportive mo Ma. Para sa'yo lahat ng to,'" Yawi shared when asked about their conversation during the emotional moment after his team's victory.

"Umiyak po siya. Tas sabi niya 'Deserve mo anak. Proud ako sa'yo sobra anak.'"

Yawi has had a roller coaster campaign in MPL PH, finishing in the bottom half of the standings in his first two seasons in the league then climbing up to 4th place in Season 8 before crashing back down with an early playoff exit in Season 9 during his first season with Echo.

Through it all, his mom always had his back.

"Simula po bata ako - grade school, sa basketball pa lang po, super supportive na siya hanggang sa maging player ako ng UST. Tapos nung sa pagstop ko po ng studies non tapos nag-ML," shared Yawi to the press.

"Nung NXP ako, pumupunta siyang Pampangga lagi para dalhan ako ng pagkain o kaya damit. Tapos ngayon sa bootcamp namin sa Echo pumupunta rin po siya lagi. Andiyan po talaga siya lagi sa buong career ko. Sobrang supportive po talaga and pati yung buong family ko po."

Now finally arriving at the world stage, Yawi can't help but feel reassured about himself after years of doubt and bashing from the MLBB community.

"Sobrang sarap sa feeling (na mag-M4). Kunwari man po in the future kahit i-bash nila ako, okay lang po kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na may laro naman talaga ako."

—JMB, GMA News