Known for his shy and reserved demeanor, Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog has stepped up to the challenge and is set to take on a bigger role for Omega Esports in the upcoming MPL Philippines Season 14.
According to Omega head coach Ronel “Stronger” Tan, Ch4knu – whose passion and commitment were questioned a few seasons back – has shown remarkable growth in both his gameplay and leadership skills, earning him the captaincy for the rebuilding squad.
“Si Ch4knu ngayon, siya na ‘yung team captain namin. Talagang ‘yung progress, ‘yung character development and everything, na kay Ch4knu,” said Stronger, who is entering his third season with the team.
The last few seasons have been a rough rollercoaster ride for the Hall of Legends member.
Ch4knu helped the Smart-backed squad clinch a silver medal finish in MPL PH Season 9 and a bronze medal in the 2022 MSC.
However, his play declined in the following season, which played a key factor in Omega Esports’ disappointing stint in Season 10.
That’s when fans and peers began to question the 22-year-old roamer’s dedication to the game.
With his passion and purpose slowly dwindling, Ch4knu – who had been playing non-stop since Season 4 – decided to sit out the entire Season 11.
After a one-season break, the veteran roamer returned to Omega Esports with a renewed sense of maturity. Once described by a teammate as childish and difficult to work with, Ch4knu came back with a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in the sport.
But his struggles did not end there.
Ch4knu’s comeback in Season 12 ended the same way as when he left – with a 5th-6th place finish following an embarrassing loss to RSG PH in the first round of the playoffs.
Determined to prove his worth, Ch4knu dedicated himself to improving both his gameplay and leadership abilities.
As part of the organization’s development squad during MDL Season 3, he diligently honed his skills and focused on becoming a more effective leader, showing his commitment to personal and team growth.
Game by game, the former Execration star put forth his best effort in hopes of regaining his old, deadly form.
And when the main team badly needed help to save their campaign in the latter part of the MPL PH Season 13 regular season, Ch4knu gladly embraced the pressure and returned to the league with a bang.
“Di ko inexpect na maglaro sa MPL this season [13] kasi nag-aaral ako. Parang focus muna ako sa pag-aaral tapos ide-develop muna ang sarili ko sa MDL,” said Ch4knu in a previous interview.
The former MSC champion led the team to huge victories against Blacklist International and eventual finalist Falcons AP.Bren, but it was not enough as they lost to TNC and Minana EVOS, marking the first time that the franchise missed the postseason.
It was another disheartening end to the once-proud squad, but Ch4knu’s resurgence gave the team a glimmer of hope.
As he enters his tenth season in the league and takes on his biggest responsibility yet, Ch4knu vowed to draw from his positive experiences and discard old bad habits in an effort to aid the struggling franchise in its quest to reclaim lost glory.
“Nakaka-proud, ‘yun lang. Based on experience lang po [yung pag-lead ko], kumbaga kung ano lang talaga ‘yung nakikita ko [noon], gagawin ko lang. ‘Yung mga magagandang side lang syempre.”
