Every time Khristian Marc De Guzman enters a VALORANT match for the University of the East, he carries more than the responsibility of being the Red Warriors’ team captain.
The fourth-year Management Accounting student also draws strength from his nine-year-old brother, whose battle with diabetes has reshaped their family’s daily life and become one of De Guzman’s greatest sources of inspiration.
His younger brother has needed insulin and close supervision from a very young age, forcing their mother to step away from her original career path.
“Yung work talaga ng Mama ko dati, real estate agent. Kaso hindi siya makapasok kasi yung little brother ko may Type 1 diabetes, kaya kailangan talagang bantayan since seven years old pa siya. Bata pa lang siya, nag-i-insulin na siya,” shared De Guzman.
“Ngayon, nine na siya kaya kailangan talaga tutukan ni Mama.”
With his brother’s condition, their mother began taking on whatever livelihood opportunities she could manage from home while remaining close enough to look after him.
“Nagtitinda siya ng kung anong kaya niyang ibenta,” said De Guzman.
Her sacrifices became even more evident to the UE captain during the UAAP playoffs, when she encouraged him to offer the extra embutido she had prepared to people he knew would be at the venue.
“Ngayon lang ako nag-alok talaga kasi sinabihan ako ni Mama na i-try ko raw mag-alok. May sobra raw sa ibinebenta niyang embutido, kaya nag-alok ako sa mga kakilala na mami-meet sa UAAP playoffs para makatulong na lang din kay Mama,” he recalled.
It was a simple gesture, but one that reflected the reality De Guzman carries while juggling his responsibilities as a student and esports athlete.
A SECOND CHANCE
(C) UAAP Media Team
De Guzman’s journey in VALORANT began in 2021 and eventually led to an opportunity to turn professional. However, he missed that chance and was forced to step away from the game completely.
The opportunity required him to join a bootcamp, something his mother opposed because she wanted him to prioritize his studies.
“Tinatanong sa akin kung kaya kong mag-commit sa team. Sinasabi ko naman na kaya ko, pero si Mama ay against sa pagbo-bootcamp kasi priority yung school. Parang nasayang yung opportunity na iyon,” recalled De Guzman.
Although difficult to accept at the time, De Guzman eventually came to understand his mother’s decision.
“Parang naintindihan ko na rin kung bakit ganoon yung reaction niya dati kasi hindi naman ganoon kalaki yung esports scene sa Pilipinas. Ngayon lang talaga nag-boom,” he explained.
His competitive aspirations found new life when UE held tryouts for its VALORANT team.
De Guzman returned to the game and eventually became captain of the Red Warriors, bringing with him experience from competing with Solokyu, which finished third in the Locked N’ Loaded Philippines tournament in 2025.
His return also came with the full backing of the same mother who had once asked him to walk away from a professional opportunity.
“Excited naman siya. Supportive talaga,” said De Guzman. “Thankful ako na andiyan sila. All-out kasi yung support nila ngayon sa akin.”
That support was embodied by a pair of shoes his parents gave him a day before the UAAP playoffs. It was a timely reminder of the family standing behind him as he led UE into the Final Four.
“Sobrang laki talaga ng impact sa akin ng support ng pamilya ko,” he added.
BALANCING SCHOOL, FAMILY, ESPORTS
(C) UAAP Media Team
Their circumstances have also shaped the decisions De Guzman has made away from competition.
He initially pursued a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree but eventually shifted to Management Accounting because of the heavy workload. The move gave him enough time to continue training for VALORANT while ensuring steady progress toward completing his education.
“Para tuloy-tuloy na rin yung pag-aaral ko. Wala nang extra gastusin kasi kahit ganoon yung kalagayan namin, nakakapag-aral ako nang maayos,” he explained.
His family’s sacrifices have made De Guzman determined to succeed despite what he considers the limited resources available to UE’s esports program.
“Sa UE, parang bare minimum lang yung support na nare-receive namin. Grateful naman ako na may transportation and food allowance kami, pero kung i-co-compare natin sa ibang UAAP schools, parang kami yung pinakawalang-wala. Sana po mas i-respect nila yung esports,” said De Guzman.
Reaching the medal rounds despite those limitations became another source of pride for De Guzman and the Red Warriors.
After his UAAP stint, De Guzman plans to give professional VALORANT another shot. This time, however, his dream is no longer driven solely by his passion for the game.
It is now anchored in his desire to provide for the family that made sacrifices to keep him in school and eventually gave him another chance to compete.
“After ng career ko sa UAAP, ita-try ko pa rin mag-VALORANT, pero siyempre gusto ko na rin mag-provide,” he said.
“Ita-try ko talaga mag-pro kasi andito pa rin naman yung passion ko. Kahit nag-quit ako dati, hindi naman nawala yung passion ko sa paglalaro.”
For De Guzman, every match is part of a larger pursuit.
His journey was inspired by his brother’s daily battle, sustained by his parents’ sacrifices, and powered by the hope that his passion can one day help him give back to them.
