Pheww

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Angelo Kyle Arcangel
Current team
TeamTeam Falcons
RoleMid laner / Captain
GameMobile Legends: Bang Bang
Personal information
NicknamePheww
BornAngelo Kyle Arcangel
Mandaluyong, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Team history
2018Digital Devils Pro
2018–2019Cignal Ultra
2020–2024AP.Bren
2024–presentTeam Falcons

Angelo Kyle Arcangel, better known as Pheww, is a Filipino professional Mobile Legends: Bang Bang player who serves as the captain and mid laner for Team Falcons. He is best known for his time with AP.Bren (formerly Bren Esports), where he became a two-time M-Series World Champion (M2 and M5). Arcangel is also the only Mobile Legends player to win two Southeast Asian Games gold medals for the Philippines.

Professional career

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Early career

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Arcangel began his professional esports career in 2018 during the inaugural season of the MPL Philippines.[1] Playing for Digital Devils Pro alongside teammates such as John "Yakou" Magno, his team finished as the runners-up in Season 1, losing to Aether Main in the finals.[1][2] Following this, he joined Cignal Ultra, where he played from Season 2 to Season 4.[2] During his tenure with Cignal Ultra, Arcangel secured his first MPL championship title in Season 2.[2]

Bren Esports / AP.Bren

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2020–2021: M2 World Championship

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In 2020, Arcangel joined Bren Esports (later rebranded as AP.Bren).[3] He was appointed team captain, a role in which he focused on discipline and punctuality, often arriving an hour early for training sessions.[4] He credited the coaching staff, including Francis "Duckey" Glindro, for professionalizing their training system.[5] In MPL PH Season 6, he led Bren Esports to the championship title.[5]

In January 2021, Bren Esports competed in the M2 World Championship in Singapore. Arcangel expressed a desire to face the Indonesian team Alter Ego in the finals to avenge a 3–0 loss from the ONE Esports MPL Invitational.[6] He noted that the team had prepared by scrimmaging against international teams to adapt to foreign playstyles.[7] While they did not face Alter Ego in the final, Bren Esports defeated Burmese Ghouls to become the first Filipino team to win the World Championship.[8]

2021–2022: Slump and rebuilding

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Following the M2 victory, the team struggled to maintain their form.[9] In MPL PH Season 8, Bren Esports began with a franchise-worst 1–6 record, which Arcangel admitted caused low morale within the squad.[10] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs in Seasons 8 and 9.[11] Arcangel contemplated retirement during this period but chose to continue due to support from his family and partner.[11]

In Season 10, Arcangel led a rebuilt roster to the semifinals. In a match against Omega Esports, he helped orchestrate a reverse sweep from an 0–2 deficit to win 3–2, recording a 5/1/7 KDA on the hero Gusion in Game 4.[12]

2023–2024: M5 World Championship

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The team returned to prominence in 2023. Arcangel led AP.Bren to the MPL Philippines Season 12 title, sweeping Blacklist International 3–0 in the upper bracket finals to secure a spot at the M5 World Championship.[13] He noted that the gameplay quality at M5 was significantly higher than in M2, requiring more complex team coordination.[13][8] AP.Bren won the tournament, making Arcangel and teammate David "FlapTzy" Canon the first players to win two M-Series titles.[2]

In 2024, the team placed second at the Mid Season Cup (MSC) in Riyadh, losing 3–4 to the Selangor Red Giants in the finals.[11] Prior to the finals, they had eliminated fellow Filipino team Team Liquid Echo in the semifinals.[14] Arcangel had correctly predicted an all-Filipino matchup in the latter stages of the tournament.[15]

Team Falcons

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In early 2025, following the expiration of their contracts with AP.Bren, Arcangel and the entire M5 roster transferred to Team Falcons.[16] Arcangel stated that the players had agreed to move as a unit to preserve their chemistry.[16]

In MPL Philippines Season 15, Arcangel became the first player in league history to record 3,000 career assists, a milestone achieved during a 2–0 sweep of TNC Pro Team.[17][18] By March 2025, he also ranked third on the league's all-time kills leaderboard with 1,356 kills.[2]

The team faced early difficulties in Season 16, holding a 1–5 record by Week 2.[19] Following back-to-back losses, Arcangel admitted that team morale was low but emphasized the need for resilience.[20] During this season, he also took on a mentorship role for rookie players like Edferdz "Ferdz" Fernandez, helping them manage competitive pressure.[21]

National team career

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Arcangel represented the Philippines at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where the national team (Sibol) won the inaugural esports gold medal for Mobile Legends.[22]

In 2023, he was selected to captain the Sibol squad for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. The roster was composed primarily of his Bren Esports teammates, excluding players from the reigning M4 champions, ECHO.[23] Arcangel stated he felt no pressure as he had previous experience representing the country.[24] The team won the gold medal by defeating Malaysia 3–0, making Arcangel the first two-time SEA Games gold medalist in the title.[25][26] He attributed the victory to the team's strong chemistry compared to the 2019 roster.[27]

Later that year, he was part of the Sibol team that won the 2023 IESF World Esports Championship, defeating Indonesia 3–1 in the finals.[28]

Player profile

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Arcangel plays the mid laner role and is known for his leadership and shotcalling.[29] His former teammate Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno has described him as "very smart" in-game, highlighting his ability to call plays and adapt to different roles over the years.[29] In 2023, he was nominated for Moonton's "10 Greatest Players" list.[30]

He is noted for specific hero masteries:

  • Selena: He recorded the first and only "Savage" (five consecutive kills) with this hero in MPL PH history.[17]
  • Bane: In Season 10, he utilized a magic damage build for Bane, which was considered an "off-meta" pick at the time, winning MVP honors for the performance.[31]
  • Julian: He utilizes an assassin-like playstyle for this hero, prioritizing burst damage.[32]

To manage team communication, Arcangel implemented a co-captaincy system with teammate Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo to ensure calm shotcalling during matches.[33]

Personal life

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Arcangel is married to Icey Vallesteros, a content creator. The couple has been together for over six years.[3] In 2024, Arcangel announced plans to use his tournament winnings to fund their wedding and start a business.[34] They married in November 2024 at the Caleruega Chapel of Transfiguration.[35] He has cited financial security and prize money as a significant motivation for his continued career in esports.[36]

References

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  1. ^ a b Pineda, Carlos (May 12, 2023). "ON THIS DAY: Z4pnu, Ribo, and Pheww headlined the beginning of the MPL". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Montevirgen, Jan Marcus (March 4, 2025). "Pheww stays hungry as he enters new era with Team Falcons". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Domingo, Ramon (February 14, 2024). "A Quick Look at Pheww and Icey: AP.Bren's Very Own Power Couple". OneMega. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  4. ^ "Pheww gains trust, respect". Daily Tribune. September 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Asuncion, Joseph (November 14, 2020). "Bren Esports' Pheww talks about the essentials to a championship team". ONE Esports. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Lozano, Kurt (January 19, 2021). "Bren Esports' Pheww: 'We want to face Alter Ego in the finals' at M2". Yahoo! News. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Asuncion, Joseph (November 17, 2020). "Bren Esports' Pheww calls out MPL ID: 'Prepare yourselves because we will be the champions'". ONE Esports. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Magallon, Reynald I. (October 29, 2023). "M2 champs Pheww, Flaptzy savor return to world stage". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  9. ^ Adams, Jarrad. "M5 World Championship: The triumphant return of Pheww and FlapTzy". GosuGamers. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  10. ^ Dannug, Jonash (September 19, 2021). "Win over NXPE a much-needed reprieve for down Bren, says Pheww". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Orcullo, Jerod (March 15, 2025). "Pheww reaches historic 3,000 assists mark, eyes MSC glory with Team Falcons". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  12. ^ Dannug, Jonash (October 20, 2022). "Pheww proves that he still got it after leading Bren to semis". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Ubaldo, JohnEd (October 27, 2023). "Pheww, FlapTzy relish M5 ticket after years of futility". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  14. ^ Montevirgen, Jan Marcus (July 12, 2024). "FlapTzy, Pheww close in on elusive MSC crown as Falcons AP.Bren eliminates Liquid Echo". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  15. ^ Siasat, JM (July 12, 2025). "Pheww predicts all-Filipino showdown in MSC final". Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Lojo, Michelle (February 25, 2025). "Pheww, FlapTzy look back on decision to leave AP Bren". Philstar. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Toledo, Jerome (March 15, 2025). "Pheww makes history as the 1st player to reach 3,000 assists in MPL PH". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  18. ^ Siasat, JM (March 15, 2025). "Pheww sets MPL record as Team Falcons ends TNC's streak". Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  19. ^ Toledo, Jerome (September 11, 2025). "MPL PH Week 4: KarlTzy-Pheww meet anew as TLPH battles Falcons". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  20. ^ Toledo, Jerome (August 31, 2025). "Pheww opens up on Team Falcons' slump: 'Mababa yung morale namin'" [Pheww opens up on Team Falcons’ slump: 'Our morale is low']. Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  21. ^ Toledo, Jerome (August 23, 2025). "Ferdz makes rousing Team Falcons' debut, attributes success to Pheww". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  22. ^ Dannug, Jonash (April 28, 2023). "Pheww thrilled about possibility of making SEAG history". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  23. ^ Dannug, Jonash (February 13, 2023). "Pheww leads SIBOL ML team for SEAG". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  24. ^ Magallon, Reynald I. (April 29, 2023). "Pheww gets rare shot at winning SEAG second gold with Sibol". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  25. ^ Siasat, JM (May 14, 2023). "Pheww becomes lone two-time SEA Games gold medalist as Sibol wins MLBB gold". Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  26. ^ Ubaldo, JohnEd (May 15, 2023). "Pheww savors second SEAG gold". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  27. ^ Borja, Mhillen Nicole (July 5, 2023). "Pheww credits strong team chemistry as winning factor in 32nd SEA Games victory". DZRH. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  28. ^ Mallari, Gab (September 4, 2023). "What Pheww said after SIBOL's rousing win in IESF World Esports Championship will excite MLBB fans". One Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  29. ^ a b Toledo, Jerome (March 29, 2025). "A Clash of Titans: KarlTzy salutes Pheww's legacy and influence". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  30. ^ Magallon, Reynald I. (October 28, 2023). "Karltzy, Pheww, Ribo lead MPL PH nominees in MOONTON's 10 Greatest Players list". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  31. ^ Elona, Jules (September 27, 2022). "Magic damage Bane is back! Pheww proves he's viable again in current meta". ONE Esports. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  32. ^ Muyot, Ron (March 20, 2023). "Kapitan Pheww ibinahagi ang kanyang Julian build" [Captain Pheww shares his Julian build]. ONE Esports. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  33. ^ Toledo, Jerome (March 30, 2025). "Owgwen steps up, tandems with Pheww to harmonize Team Falcons". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  34. ^ Toledo, Jerome (April 6, 2024). "MPL-PH: Pheww shows how AP.Bren prepares for future outside MLBB". One Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  35. ^ Pineda, Carlos (November 6, 2024). "LOOK: Bren's Pheww and Icey have officially tied the knot". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  36. ^ Rossel, John Dave T. (March 11, 2025). "MPL PH: Team Falcons PH Pheww reveals what keeps them motivated, and we can all relate". esports.gg. Retrieved December 20, 2025.