Career
2015–2019: TNC Predator
Palad began his professional career in the original Defense of the Ancients (Dota 1) before transitioning to Dota 2. [2] He joined the Philippine-based organization TNC Pro Team (later TNC Predator). [3] During The International 2016, Palad played the mid-lane position. [2] His team eliminated the tournament favorites, OG, in a 2–0 series in the lower bracket, a result that allowed TNC to finish in 7th–8th place. [2] This match is often cited by fans as a significant moment in the team's history. [3]
Following the 2016 season, Palad transitioned from the mid-lane to the offlane role. [2] In 2019, he competed with TNC Predator at The International 2019, where the team finished in 9th–12th place. [2] Following the tournament, Palad announced on Twitter that he was looking for a new team. [4] He and his teammate Nico "eyyou" Barcelon officially left the organization in September 2019. [3] They were the last remaining members of the roster that competed at The International 2016. [3]
2020–2022: Geek Fam and T1
In 2020, Palad played for Geek Fam. [5] However, the team disbanded its roster in September 2020 due to the cancellation of the Dota Pro Circuit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] Following the disbandment, he formed a temporary team called "Among Us" to compete in the BTS Pro Series: SEA Season 3. [5]
Palad subsequently joined the South Korean organization T1 as their captain. [6] He was unable to attend the ONE Esports Singapore Major after testing positive for COVID-19. [6] He returned to the active roster for the WePlay AniMajor in June 2021, helping the team reach the Upper Bracket Final. [6] At The International 2021 (TI10), Palad led T1 to a 7th–8th place finish, matching his highest personal placement at the world championship. [2]
In 2022, T1 failed to qualify for The International 2022. [7] They were eliminated in the qualifiers after losing to Vici Gaming. [7] Following the loss, Palad stated that his contract with T1 had ended and he was exploring opportunities with other teams. [7] He expressed a desire to continue playing the offlane role but noted he was open to transitioning to support positions. [7]
2024–present: Talon Esports
As of 2025, Palad plays for Flipster Talon (Talon Esports). [2] In January 2025, he secured a spot at ESL One Raleigh 2025 after he and his team defeated Team Kukuys in the Southeast Asia closed qualifiers. [8]
During May 2025, Palad captained the squad at DreamLeague Season 26. [9] He led the roster through the group stages with victories against Yakult Brothers, NAVI Junior, and Team Liquid. [9] [10] Despite a loss to Parivision in the second group stage, [11] Palad finished in the top three, earning US$80,000. [12] This performance qualified him for the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. [13]
Later that year, Palad failed to qualify for The International 2025 following losses to Team Nemesis and Boom Esports. [2]
2018 Chongqing Major ban
In November 2018, Palad was involved in a controversy regarding the use of a racial slur during a public match. [14] He typed a derogatory phrase Ching chong often used to mock the Chinese language while playing against Chinese players. [15] The incident occurred shortly after a similar incident involving another Filipino player, Rolen Andrei Gabriel "Skemberlu" Ong. [16]
The incident led to a backlash from the Chinese Dota 2 community, and LGD Gaming refused to practice with TNC Predator. [14] Reports surfaced that the municipal government of Chongqing would ban Palad from entering the city for the upcoming Chongqing Major. [14] [17]
On December 3, 2018, game developer Valve Corporation officially banned Palad from the tournament. [16] In a blog post, Valve stated that TNC had "mishandled" the situation and attempted to cover up the incident rather than taking proper responsibility. [16] As a penalty, TNC Predator was also docked 20 percent of their Dota Pro Circuit points. [16] Palad took a personal leave of absence from the team in December 2018 but returned to the active roster in January 2019. [18] [19]
The ban received mixed reactions within the esports community. Some casters, including Grant "GranDGranT" Harris and David "GoDZ" Parker, threatened to boycott the major in support of Palad, arguing that a career-affecting ban was too severe for a mistake. [17] [15] Conversely, esports host Paul "Redeye" Chaloner commended Valve for taking action against racism. [17]
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