By: Arjohn Roxas
After years of heartbreak and near misses, Aurora veteran roamer Dylan “Light” Catipon couldn’t hold back his emotions after finally leading his team past long-time rivals Team Liquid PH to secure his first-ever M-Series appearance in the upcoming M7 World Championship.
“As a pro player, dream mo na yun eh,” Light said in an exclusive interview with Tiebreaker Times.
“Parang dream na hindi mo alam kung maabot mo ba o hindi, lalo na nung mga times na sobrang daming upset na nangyari sa career ko. Isa na lang makakapasok na tapos kukulangin.”
Light’s career once reached its peak when he and RSG Philippines captured the 2022 MSC title and the MPL PH Season 9 crown.
However, RSG’s dominance proved short-lived. The team settled for third place in the following two seasons—both times falling to the Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno-led ECHO.
For Light, overcoming Team Liquid PH—formerly known as ECHO—in this season’s upper bracket finals meant finally breaking the invisible wall that had blocked his path to the international stage since Season 10.
(C) Moonton Games
“May point talaga na parang may invisible wall na, lalo na laging TLPH yung nakakalaban namin eh,” he said.
“Since sila yung naglalag sa amin tapos wala na after nun, third place na ulit kami kaya sobrang ano siya, kumbaga may balakid na nakaharang.”
The veteran admitted that those years of falling short left him with deep regrets, especially after their multiple lower bracket exits. He also revealed that the losses weighed heavily on him emotionally, particularly when he thought about the unwavering support of his girlfriend.
“Sobrang nagi-guilty ako pag natatalo rin kasi andiyan siya para sumuporta sakin tapos eventually parang disappointing, lalo na nung mga nalaglag kami sa RSG, tas sa BTR ako ganun din. Tapos nung na-achieve ko yung slot sa M7 ngayon, parang lahat ng sacrifice naging worth it kaya naging emotional ako.”
Light’s resurgence could not have come at a better time. Not only did he clinch his first-ever M-Series slot, but he also captured his first Regular Season MVP award.
“Yung MVP bonus na lang sakin eh. Kumbaga, yung ginagawa mo nare-recognize, pero hindi talaga yun yung nilolook ko kasi baliwala yun lalo nga nanalo na ko then after ko naman i-receive yun, talo naman kami sa playoffs. Sobrang laking sampal na ayun, MVP ka nga pero di naman kayo nakapasok, kaya talagang eyes on the prize lang kami na makapag-champion ngayon talaga,” he said.
Despite the accolades, Light refuses to rest on his laurels. His focus remains on consistency and maintaining his form to ensure longevity in his career.
“Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm at the same time wag lang siguro ako magpakain sa dami ng na-achieve,” Light said.
“Kasi in the end baka masobrahan ako tapos mag-fall down ako. So focus lang sa lahat and humble lang.”
