Middle blocker to midlaner: Esports athlete Yue shares transition from volleyball to Mobile Legends

Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo has always been tenacious as evident with his superb plays and exceptional skills as a midlaner for Aurora Gaming in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports scene.

But his competitive drive didn’t begin in the Land of Dawn as he first honed it on the volleyball court, starting out as a middle blocker and later a setter during his elementary and high school years.

"Before ML, nagaaral ako tsaka volleyball player sa school ko nu’ng high school ako. Naging middle blocker ako nu’ng elementary ako then pagdating sa high school, ginawa akong setter," Yue told GMA News Online last Saturday.

"First love ko ‘yung volleyball."

(Before ML, I was studying and I was a volleyball player for my school when I was in high school. I was a middle blocker when I was in elementary and then when I got to high school, they made me a setter... Volleyball is my first love.)

Yue began his volleyball journey manning the net as a middle blocker for Serrano Elementary School in Valenzuela, later shifting to setter at Caruhatan National High School after the graduation of his senior teammates.

At a young age, Yue quickly learned to adapt, eventually embracing his role as the team’s playmaker, a skill that would later prove invaluable in his Mobile Legends career.

"Nu’ng time po nu’ng high school, umalis na ‘yung mga seniors ko so walang natira, e sumakto na ako na ‘yung fit sa role tapos pinratice ako ng coach ko para mahasa ‘yung pagiging setter ako," Yue added.

(In my time in high school, my seniors all left so there was no one to play the position, but it turned out that I was a fit for the role and my coaches put me through practices so that they could hone my skills as a setter.)

But the pandemic happened, forcing Yue to find opportunities outside the volleyball taraflex after wrapping up his senior high school. 

He was first discovered by renowned squad Blacklist International before joining Aurora Gaming following the latter's entry into the scene early last year. 

From that transition, Yue is now marching to his third straight M-series appearance as Aurora Gaming represents the Philippines in the M7 World Championship alongside Team Liquid. 

This time, he’s aiming for nothing less than the title.

READ MORE | MTB hopes Aurora Gaming beats 'choker' allegations in M7

"Siguro ‘yung expectations ko this time ay mas magiging maganda ‘yung run namin compared sa M6," he said.

"Nu’ng M6 sobrang pangit kasi hindi kami nakapasok sa playoffs so ngayon, ine-expect ko na mas malayo kami."

(I guess my expectations this time is that we'll have a better run compared to the M6. In the M6, it was really bad because we didn't make the playoffs so this time, I expect us to go further.)

—JMB, GMA Integrated News