Filipino MLBB star Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, recently inducted into the MPL Philippines Hall of Legends during the seasonal Alamat Awards, has sparked a debate within the Philippines MLBB community. The contention arises from his integral role on an Indonesian team.
Kairi, alongside Falcons Bren’s David “FlapTzy” Canon, has been celebrated for his remarkable contributions and performance in both the global and local MLBB scenes. Kairi is recognized as the first Filipino player to compete abroad, amassing a collection of accolades including MPL ID and MVP trophies, as well as Snapdragon Pro and MSC 2023 titles.
However, his induction into the Hall of Legends has met with mixed reactions. While Indonesian and Fnatic Onic fans are thrilled with Kairi’s achievement, many Filipino fans are displeased, arguing that he shouldn’t receive such an honor as he has been known as the star of Fnatic Onic ID and competing against his countrymen for years. Some fans believe other MPL PH players are more deserving of the honor.
Conversely, some fans support Kairi’s recognition, suggesting that other Filipinos who excel abroad should also be honored, regardless of their team. Names like Geek Fam’s Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy and Fnatic Onic’s head coach Paul “Yeb” Denver have been mentioned as examples.
Nevertheless, Kairi is certainly no stranger to this kind of drama. Last December, he faced severe backlash from MPL ID and Onic fans after a costly mistake in the grand finale of M5 against Falcons Bren. Nevertheless, Kairi has rebounded and made peace with the past, even humorously referencing the incident.
Beyond the Hall of Legends, the Alamat Awards also named their All-Star picks: Falcons Bren trio “Super Marco” Requitiano, Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, Kyle “KyleTzy” Sayson, Liquid Echo’s midlaner “Sanji” Pabico, and RSG PH’s exp laner Nathanael “Nathz” Estrologo.
For the Rookie of the Season award, TNC Pro’s Nomed was recognized for his impressive gameplay and strong mentality, despite his team’s overall performance. Lastly, the Coach of the Season award went to Francis “Ducky” Glindro, who led The Hives to a top finish during the regular season.
