Picture this: a student deep in his studies, only to reach for his phone to play Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
The first impression in anyone's mind would be that this guy is slacking off. You can almost hear that stereotypical parent nagging, "Laro ka ng laro!"
But it wasn't so for one particular player. Far from it.
In Dinalupihan, Bataan lives a young man whose journey to becoming a Licensed Professional Teacher (LPT) didn’t just come with reviewers and sleepless nights—but with mobile game matches, live MLBB Professional League (MPL) duels, and a team called ONIC Philippines.
John Rudolf Barbin, an avid fan of ONIC Philippines in the MPL, took to MLBB to get through pressure, anxiety, and overthinking.
For him, ONIC isn’t just a team, and MLBB isn’t just a game—these are safe spaces, his reset button, and at times, his lifeline.
Now, he's a licensed professional teacher.
"Some may say na sagabal ang paglalaro ng mobile games sa buhay ng isang tao lalo sa pag-aaral. Pero para sa akin, nakadepende pa ‘rin sa tao kung paano siya magiging responsable sa paglalaro," Barbin told One Sports and GG Network.
He's been a fan of the MPL squad for over a year.
"It started nung lumipat si E2max, Kelra, and Coach Tony. Pero as an MPL fan, more than 5 years na," Barbin said.
Like many fans, his loyalty came with time. But his passion started where everyone in esports began--as a player.
"Naglalaro ‘rin ako ng MLBB, pero madalas ay solo lang. So, basically, multi-role ako. Nilalaro ko lahat depende sa anong role ang kailangan," he shared. "Everyday akong naglalaro pero hindi sagaran. Three hours lang siguro. Minsan kasama ‘yung mga friends ko, pero madalas talaga ay solo lang ako kung maglaro."
In MLBB, he considers himself flexible--able to play any role needed. In life, he plays almost every role.
When John is not playing in the Land of Dawn, he's doing a lot of everything else.
"Aside sa pagiging admin staff sa isang company sa Cavite, may mga side hustle ako. I’m a freelance Campus Journalism Trainor, nagiging speaker and evaluator din sa mga Press Conferences. Tumatanggap din ako ng mga layout and page designing project."
But nothing could have prepared him for the emotional weight of preparing for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). For someone constantly seen as an achiever, go-getter, top student, and a campus journalist—the pressure to succeed was suffocating.
"After ng graduation last year, nag start na ako mag self-review para sa March 2025 LET. Pero that time, lagi akong kinakain ng pressure and expectations ng mga tao," John recounted. "Kilala ako sa school at lugar namin as a student na laging nananalo sa competitions at bilang aktibong Campus Journalist. EIC po ako ng publication namin."
"At dahil doon, na-pressure ako nang sobra. To the point na ino-overthink ko gabi-gabi yung sasabihin nila kapag hindi ako pumasa."
Then came ONIC. For many, the start of MPL Philippines Season 14 was just another tournament. For John, it was a sanctuary.
"I found strength sa panonood sa ONIC and may times pa na pumupunta ako sa venue to physically see them. Nakakalimutan ko ‘yung pressure at stress kapag nanonood ako ng match ng MPL. Basta whenever I feel exhausted sa pagrereview, pumunta lang ako ng YT para manood ng match ng ONIC," Barbin recalled.
Of course, he couldn't miss making memories with the Super Family.
"Pinaka-core memory ko sa MPL at as part ng ONIC family ay nung sa wakas nakapanood na ako nang live ng MPL. Nakita ko na ‘rin ang ONIC PH nang personal, especially si Kelra (my idol). Nung araw na ‘yon, sobrang nabuo ‘yung araw ko at nagkaroon pa ako ng oportunidad na makapag papicture sa kanila," he shared.
But more than photos and memories, it was Kelra’s journey towards his first MPL championship that moved him.
"Nakaka-relate kasi ako sa run ni Kelra sa MPL na matagal na ‘rin sya sa liga pero hindi ibinibigay sa kanya ng tadhana ‘yung championship. Pero talagang pinagsumikapan niya at hindi siya sumuko hanggang sa one day, umayon na sa kanya 'yung tadhana," he said.
John, too, had known the sting of waiting — and the sweet victory of finally arriving.
"Ako kasi maraming beses rin nadala. Dapat po 2020 graduate na ako, pero hindi binigay para sa akin. Nag-stop ako! Pero hindi ako sumuko. Nilaban ko talaga hanggang ganun din, one day, nakatapos ako. Kaya naniniwala talaga ako sa perfect timing. At kung para sayo, ibibigay sayo. Basta marunong ka lang maghintay at wag kang maiinip."
Teaching wasn’t even his original dream.
"Ang dream ko talaga ay maging journalist pero wala kasi kami pera. ‘Yung pagiging teacher naging pangarap ko naman din siya pero mas umikot pa rin ako sa kagustuhan kong ma-pursue 'yung dream ko to become a journalist," John said.
"Kaya nga magandang program pa ‘rin itong pagiging teacher, kasi part din ng curriculum ang pagtuturo sa mga bata ng campus journalism, kaya inilaban ko na talaga ang pagiging teacher."
He then used MLBB to overcome his struggles in balancing school, work, and gaming.
"Sa case ko kasi, ang pinaka-naging struggle ko talaga habang nasa preparation ako ng pag-take ng board exam ay yung malalang anxiety at di maiwasang pag o-overthink," he admitted. "Mahirap kalabanin ang mga kalabang hindi mo makikita pero brutal kung magparamdam."
"Mahirap kalabanin ang mga ito, lalo kung wala kang nakakausap at napagsasabihan ng mga pagod at paghihirap mo," Barbin added. "Maraming gabing napanghihinaan ako ng loob at umiiyak. Naiisipang sumuko at wag na lang magpatuloy."
"Pero sa tuwing nilalamon ako ng mga ito, kinukuha ko lang 'yung phone ko, ino-open ang ML at naglalaro. Ibinubuhos ko sa paglalaro ‘yung negatibong enerhiyang makakasira sa akin hanggang sa kumalma ako at maging okay na ulit."
John wasn’t just a player or a fan. He was a dreamer who made it, not in spite of the game, but in many ways, because of it.
"At nung araw at nung mismong oras na lumabas ang resulta, nasa kalagitnaan ako ng paglalaro ng ML nang biglang nakatanggap ako ng mensahe na pumasa ako… na LPT na ako."
"Simula una hanggang dulo ng road to LPT journey ko, kasama ko ang ONIC PH at ang ML. At isa itong buhay na patunay na hindi lang basta isang laro ang ML. Dito ako kumukuha ng lakas, inspirasyon, at pag-asa sa tuwing nakakaramdam ako ng pagsubok."
For some, the MPL is just a league. For John, it was healing. For others, ONIC is just a team. For him, they were champions in silence — cheering him on while the world expected him to never fail.
And thanks to playing MLBB, John made sure he didn’t fail.