Andoryuuu took the leap of faith and joined Virtus.pro. Now, he gets to step on the main MSC 2025 stage after winning the Wild Card.
When Virtus.pro entered the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 at Esports World Cup (EWC) Wild Card Stage, few expected a Filipino jungler to be at the heart of their success. Yet, there he was, Andrew “Andoryuuu” Lew Flora, a former MPL PH standout, calling the shots and making crucial plays for the CIS team. However, the story of how he ended up in the CIS squad was anything but straightforward.
In an exclusive interview with esports.gg, Andoryuuu shared his journey alongside the Russian team, the struggles, and how he was able to overcome the challenges to spearhead the team into winning the MSC 2025 at EWC Wild Card Stage.
Andoryuuu became “The Nightmare” of MSC 2025 at EWC Wild Card Stage
Before the tournament, Virtus.pro already had their five-player Russian squad. However, due to restrictions on being underage, Zaur "zaur egoist" Magomadov could not participate. This left the team scrambling to find a stand-in for the event.
That’s when their coach, Kenneth "Flysolo" Coloma (also known as Realsolo), who is also a Filipino, turned their attention to Andoryuuu, a Filipino jungler fresh off his run in MPL Philippines Season 15. His team did not do well last season, finishing in 8th place, the lowest on the leaderboard. Needless to say, it wasn’t a good time for Andoryuuu, who was taking a break from MLBB.
“At that time, I wasn’t even confident about joining. I was going through a rough patch and had stopped playing ML altogether. Honestly, I’m not even sure why I said yes when Coach Flysolo asked me.”
Despite the hesitation, Andoryuuu took the leap of faith. He joined Virtus.pro, and found himself in unfamiliar territory, not just culturally but linguistically. With English not being the primary language for most of the squad, communication posed an immediate challenge.
“I worked on improving my advance planning in-game,” he explained. “So, before the situation even happens, I’d start guiding them in English, but just the basics. Since we haven’t been together that long, I try to avoid overly complex communication, unlike the teams who have been playing for a long time.”
Adapting to Virtus.pro’s playstyle, however, came naturally for Andoryuuu. Having experienced different metas and team strategies in the past, Andoryuuu found it easy to mold himself into the system.
“There wasn’t really anything major I had to adjust to,” he said. “I’ve already played with a variety of playstyles before. Once I saw how they operated, I instantly knew what I needed to tweak on my end.”
Throughout the Wild Card Stage, Andoryuuu quickly earned a reputation among fans and opponents alike, one that led to his moniker: “The Nightmare.” With relentless map control, perfectly timed engagements, and an uncanny ability to disrupt the enemy’s tempo, the Filipino jungler became the player that teams dreaded facing. He even made Jungle Uranus work, which surprised everyone, considering how this hero is commonly used in the EXP lane. For Wild Card teams who crossed his path, Andoryuuu wasn’t just a threat. He was the nightmare they couldn’t wake up from.
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While working with the team was going smoothly for Andoryuuu, there was still one thing they needed to work on: trusting each other. And that trust had to be built quickly. For Andoryuuu, it started outside the game.
“Trust started to build when I began speaking up in-game, even before we had proper practice,” he recalled. “I also made an effort to talk to them about everyday stuff, their hobbies, their lives. That’s where the bond really started.”
It’s a far cry from the confident challenger who once declared his intent to dominate the idols of the MPL PH region. Now, his mindset has evolved.
“Back then, it was about proving myself,” he said. “But now? I just want to play against the best of the best in this league.”
With Virtus.pro now advancing to the MSC 2025 Group Stage, Andoryuuu’s journey is still far from over, but it’s already one of the most unique and inspiring stories of the tournament. From doubt to determination, from language gaps to in-game trust, he’s proving that talent, adaptability, and heart know no borders.
To keep track of the event, check out esports.gg's MSC 2025 at EWC tournament hub, where you can check out the updated scores, match schedule, and livestream links.
