Pinoy tactician Arcadia, a protege of Leathergoods, now a coaching force in MPL Malaysia

Michael Angelo "Arcadia" Bocado nearly called it quits in esports after he wrapped up his stint as a professional player for Bren Esports' Arena of Valor team in 2017.

In fact, Arcadia was all ready to go back to his profession in Information Technology (I.T.).

But a call from Ralph Andrei “Leathergoods” Llabres saw Arcadia have a change of heart as he made an esports comeback, this time in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang event.

Leathergoods, his coach during his time with Bren Esports and a well-known personality in the community, asked Arcadia whether he's interested in calling the shots for the Sun Sparks team in the MPL Philippines. That was the beginning of Arcadia's coaching career.

"Basically, nag-start talaga ako as a pro player before under Bren Esports but for a different team, Arena of Valor," Arcadia told GMA News Online in an interview.

"Nu’ng pro player ako naka-team ko si Coach Leathergoods. Actually he was my coach at the time nu’ng player pa lang ako. And then after ng stint ko as a pro player, I was about to retire actually and go back to my other industry, but he invited me to coach Sun Sparks."

[Basically, I started as a pro player under Bren Esports but for a different team, Arena of Valor. When I was a pro player, I was able to be on the same team as Coach Leatherwood’s. Actually, he was my coach at the time that I was still a player. And the after my stint as a pro player, I was about to retire actually and go back to my other industry, but he invited me to coach Sun Sparks.]

Having been guided by someone like Leathergoods, Arcadia was successful in his first attempt at coaching as he led Sun Sparks to MPL Philippines Season 5 title, helping the team complete a rare back-to-back title runs in the local league.

"Isa siya sa naging mentors ko before. Nu’ng coach ko kasi siya, ako naman ‘yung captain so we really know each other and maybe nakakita siya ng potential and tinuruan niya ako," Arcadia added.

[He was one of my mentors before. When he was my coach, I was the captain so we really know each other and maybe he saw some potential in me and he began teaching me.]

Arcadia continued to pursue coaching, once finding himself at the helm of Echo (now Team Liquid) before flying miles away to lead RRQ Hoshi in Indonesia.

A proven winner, he then found an opportunity to coach the Selangor Red Giants in Malaysia, where he would win multiple titles and cement his legacy in the books of ML:BB coaching.

Arcadia first steered SRG to MPL Malaysia Season 13 title before they pulled off an unlikely title run in the Mid-Season Cup last July by edging a powerhouse team that was Falcons AP. Bren. That was the first major title by any Malaysian team in any international ML:BB tournament.

But SRG proved it was no fluke, reigning supreme anew in MPL Malaysia Season 14 to seal one of the two spots in M6 World Championship this December where they will shoot for another history in front of the home crowd.

"Sobrang saya kasi ito ‘yung first time na magkaroon ng back-to-back champions dito sa MPL Malaysia," Arcadia said.

"And marami talagang nagda-doubt talaga sa amin na hindi namin mabe-break ‘yung curse this season, na magagaya kami sa previous champions. But we're very happy na we're able to write history."

[I was so happy because this is the first time that there was a back-to-back champion here in MPL Malaysia. And a lot of people doubted us, that we wouldn’t be able to break that curse this season, that we’d be just like the other previous champions. But we’re very happy that we’re able to write history.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News