Yawi (gamer)

Yawi
Current team
TeamWeTrnd Esports
RoleRoamer
Game(s)Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Honor of Kings
Personal information
BornTristan Cabrera
Philippines

Tristan Cabrera (born c. 2001), professionally known as Yawi, is a Filipino professional esports player.[1] He competes in Honor of Kings for WeTrnd Esports.[2] He is best known for his career in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), where he won the M4 World Championship with ECHO and the MPL Indonesia Season 14 title with Team Liquid ID.[3]

Early life and education

Tristan Cabrera attended the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for high school, where he played for the school's varsity basketball team.[4][5] He later attended Mapúa University for his senior high school studies while balancing his esports career.[6] His mother supported his career, often bringing him food and clothes during bootcamps.[5] Cabrera stated that he had to miss family events, such as his brother's graduation, to attend practice scrimmages.[6]

Career

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Nexplay Esports

Cabrera began his professional career with Nexplay Esports (later Nexplay EVOS).[7] He formed a trio known as the "Big Three" alongside teammates John Paul "H2wo" Salonga and Renejay "Renejay" Barcarse.[8] In MPL Philippines Season 8, he recorded 262 assists, 38 kills, and 161 deaths.[7] Cabrera left the team in December 2021.[9]

ECHO

In late 2021, Cabrera joined ECHO for MPL Philippines Season 9.[10] In Season 10, he helped the team reach the grand finals, securing a spot in the M4 World Championship.[5]

In January 2023, Cabrera won the M4 World Championship in Jakarta.[11] He was benched for the team's opening match against RRQ Hoshi but returned to the lineup to defeat Blacklist International 4–0 in the finals.[12][13][14] Following the world title, ECHO won the MPL Philippines Season 11 championship in May 2023.[15]

During MPL Philippines Season 12, Cabrera saw limited playing time and was replaced in the starting lineup by Jaypee "Jaypee" Dela Cruz.[16] The team's coaching staff stated that Jaypee offered a playstyle that was less risky than Cabrera's aggressive mechanics.[17][18] Cabrera officially parted ways with ECHO in January 2024.[12]

Team Liquid ID

In February 2024, Cabrera moved to Indonesia to join Aura Fire (later rebranded as Team Liquid ID).[19][20] He was the first Filipino import to play for the Aura franchise.[19][21] Cabrera noted that he focused on teaching his new teammates "discipline" regarding in-game objectives.[22]

In October 2024, Cabrera won his second MPL title when Team Liquid ID defeated RRQ Hoshi 4–3 in the MPL Indonesia Season 14 Grand Finals.[3] A crucial "Lord steal" at the 13:16 mark of the deciding Game 7 contributed to the victory.[3] He left the team in late November 2024.[23]

TNC Pro Team

Cabrera returned to the Philippines in November 2024 to join TNC Pro Team.[24][25] The move reunited him with his former mentor Setsuna "Dogie" Ignacio.[26] With Cabrera, TNC qualified for the playoffs in MPL Philippines Season 15, ending a drought of playoff appearances for the organization.[27] He departed TNC on July 2, 2025.[28]

Honor of Kings

In July 2025, Cabrera transitioned to the game Honor of Kings.[29] He reunited with his former Nexplay teammates Salonga and Barcarse, along with Ignacio, for the move.[30] In August 2025, he joined WeTrnd Esports to compete in the Philippines Kings League (PKL) Fall Season 2025.[2]

Player profile

Cabrera plays the Roamer role and is known for using the hero Chou.[31] He has referred to himself as the "Chou god" due to his high win rate with the character in professional play.[14] In March 2023, he was named the Player of the Week in MPL Philippines Season 11 after recording 5.75 assists and a KDA of 3.10.[31] In May 2023, he stated he worked on his mental and physical conditioning to redeem himself after a playoff loss to RSG Slate.[32]

Personal life

In January 2023, Cabrera was involved in a controversy regarding his relationship with National University volleyball player Jennifer Nierva.[33] The issue surfaced on social media shortly before the M4 World Championship, and ECHO management stated they addressed the matter internally.[33]

During MPL Philippines Season 12, ECHO manager Mitch Liwanag received death threats from fans after the team decided to bench Cabrera.[34] Cabrera later addressed the fans, clarifying there was no internal conflict and asking them to support the team's decisions.[35]

References

  1. ^ "M4: Amid controversies, Yawi keeps eyes on world title race". ABS-CBN News. January 4, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Micaller, Bea (August 27, 2025). "Yawi, H2WO banner WeTrnd Esports' Honor of Kings roster for PKL Fall season". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Yawi a champion again as Team Liquid ID clinches MPL Indonesia Season 14 title". GMA News Online. GMA Network. October 29, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "YAWI focused on Season 10 title". Daily Tribune. October 11, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Coloma, Angela (October 23, 2022). "MPL Season 10: In tears, Yawi makes sure to thank ma after career milestone". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Coloma, Angela (August 30, 2022). "MPL Season 10: Yawi ibinahagi ang mga sakripisyo bago ang laban vs. Blacklist" [MPL Season 10: Yawi shares sacrifices before match vs. Blacklist]. ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Carandang, Justin Kenneth (December 7, 2021). "Yawi parts ways with Nexplay Esports". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  8. ^ Pineda, Carlos (July 3, 2025). "MPL stars Yawi, H2wo, and Renejay conquer Honor of Kings". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  9. ^ Coloma, Angela (December 7, 2021). "Mobile Legends: Nexplay veteran Yawi parts ways with team amid speculation". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  10. ^ Coloma, Angela (April 12, 2022). "MPL Season 9: Yawi aminadong nalungkot nang di nakaharap sina Renejay, H2Wo" [MPL Season 9: Yawi admits sadness on not facing Renejay, H2Wo]. ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  11. ^ Elona, Jules (January 15, 2023). "Exclusive: Yawi surprised he has so many Indonesian fans, has nothing but praise for their hospitality at M4". ONE Esports. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Coloma, AC (January 30, 2024). "MLBB: End of an era as Yawi parts ways with ECHO". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  13. ^ "M4: Echo coach explains why Yawi sat out opener vs. RRQ". ABS-CBN. January 3, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Micaller, Bea (January 15, 2023). "With success using his signature hero Chou, Yawi says: 'I think I'm the Chou god'". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  15. ^ Micaller, Bea (January 31, 2024). "MPL PH: Yawi parts ways with Echo". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  16. ^ "The real reason why Yawi has not been playing for ECHO". Spin.ph. October 27, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  17. ^ Coloma, AC (September 10, 2023). "MPL S12: Why ECHO sidelined Yawi in the opening week". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  18. ^ Coloma, AC (October 14, 2023). "MPL Season 12: AP Bren spoils Yawi's return, sends ECHO to 3rd straight loss". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Yawi heads to Indonesia, signs with Aura Esports". GMA News Online. February 2, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  20. ^ Coloma, AC (February 1, 2024). "MLBB: Yawi goes to Indonesia's AURA Fire". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  21. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (February 3, 2024). "End of era: Yawi leaves Echo, joins Aura in Indonesia". Rappler. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  22. ^ Coloma, AC (April 9, 2024). "In Indonesia stint, Yawi instills discipline on teammates". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  23. ^ Ambat, Pao (November 28, 2024). "MPL: Yawi signs with TNC after departure from Team Liquid ID". One Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  24. ^ Caacbay, Kennedy (November 28, 2024). "MLBB: Yawi back in PH scene, joins TNC". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  25. ^ Micaller, Bea (November 28, 2024). "Yawi returns home, signs with TNC Pro Team". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  26. ^ Rossel, John Dave (March 11, 2025). "MPL PH: TNC Yawi hints that his longtime mentor Dogie might be stepping away from esports". Esports.gg. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  27. ^ Pineda, Carlos (July 2, 2025). "Yawi officially departs TNC; signs of Renejay and H2wo to TNC?". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  28. ^ Micaller, Bea (July 2, 2025). "Yawi exits TNC after remarkable one-season stint". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  29. ^ Lojo, Michelle (July 3, 2025). "Honor of Kings reunites Dogie with Nexplay's Big 3". Philstar Global. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  30. ^ Micaller, Bea (July 3, 2025). "Yawi, Renejay, H2WO leave MLBB teams, move to Honor of Kings". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  31. ^ a b "MPL Season 11: ECHO's Yawi is Player of the Week". ABS-CBN News. March 9, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  32. ^ Coloma, Angela (May 6, 2023). "MPL Season 11: Yawi determined to redeem himself with playoff spot on the line". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  33. ^ a b Ballesteros, Jan (January 3, 2023). "ECHO looking into the alleged Yawi cheating scandal". One Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  34. ^ "ECHO manager, coach break silence on roamer brouhaha". ABS-CBN News. October 29, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  35. ^ Lojo, Michelle (April 11, 2024). "Yawi sets record straight on departure from Echo". Philstar Global. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
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