Czarina Faith Abuso

Perkziva rises from unsung backup to breakout player while saving for college dreams

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

<p>John Sumawan, better known in the esports scene as Perkziva, has been regarded as an unsung hero throughout his stints with Team Liquid Philippines and other previous teams. He served as a sixth man across these squads, often coming in as a substitute or backup player when needed.</p><p>This MPL PH Season 17, however, he stepped up and showed what he’s truly capable of with his new team Smart Omega, finally earning playing time as he shared in an exclusive interview with<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz"> <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong>.</a></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:660px;display:block" width="660"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779023743716John-Sumawan-1.jpg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Courtesy: Richard Esguerra</em></span></span></span></div><p>“Sa akin parang every game, tini-treat ko siya as last game na namin. Ito yung parang second time ko na magkaka-playing time eh. Kasi huling laro ko sa Blacklist (International) pa na may playing time. Kaya ayoko na sayangin yung opportunities na binibigay sa akin ng coach, kampi ko, pati management,” he expressed.</p><p>He went on to share his determination to get into the games: “Gusto ko makapasok talaga. Gusto ko ma-experience na ako yung naglalaro… Masaya rin dahil parang wala na ako sa shadow pero gusto ko pa rin ma-establish yung image ko. Gusto ko pa talagang manalo nang manalo nang manalo.”</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMahwXGtU0K/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=502&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A7237374.1000003815%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="647" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>John also reflected that although there were some tough moments as a sixth man in his previous team, gratitude still outweighed everything in his journey.</p><p>“Malungkot po ako but at the same time thankful po ako parang iba po talaga yung natulong nila (Team Liquid Philippines) sa akin eh. Una po financially, yung knowledge po talaga in-game. Kahit hindi lang po si Dad (Jaypee Dela Cruz) ang nagtuturo sakin eh pati si Karl (Nepomuceno) po. Iba po talaga yung natulong nila sa akin eh. Kaya sobrang thankful po ako sa kanila kung maging kampi ko man sila sa future abangan niyo na lang,” he shared.</p><p>He also looked back on how being part of a champion team shaped his growth as a player.</p><p>“Yung natutunan ko talaga sa Liquid sobrang dami talaga. Hindi ko na mabilang yung natulong nila sa akin. Kaya feel ko iba yung ako ngayon sa paglalaro ko sa MPL,” he emphasized.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:660px;display:block" width="660"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779023803955John-Sumawan-2.jpg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Courtesy: Richard Esguerra</em></span></span></span></div><p>John also opened up about how it feels to be regarded as a breakout player this season.</p><p>“Naramdaman ko din naman po eh. Lalo na sobrang gutom ko talaga maglaro this season. Feel ko marami akong natutunan nung naging one year ako sa bench eh. Parang ang daming na-realize ganyan. Siguro, plano sa akin ni Lord na ma-realize ko na kulang pa ako, kailangan ko ayusin yung attitude ko, lahat ng in-game or outside the game, kailangan ko talaga ma-realize. Yan pala plano sa akin ni Lord. Kaya ngayon, feel ko na nakapag-Playoffs kami dahil nakatulong sa kanila,” he admitted.</p><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:660px;display:block" width="660"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779023861301John-Sumawan-3.jpg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Courtesy: Richard Esguerra</em></span></span></span></div><p>He also opened up about the pressure of replacing a well-decorated player like Ch4knu and how the team went from being overlooked by many to becoming this season’s dark horse contenders.</p><p>“Expected ng mga tao sa amin, 7th or 8th place. Pero sa kampi ko rin po eh (kaya kami nananalo). Kasi may shared po kami na common na talagang pinagdaanan. Tulad po si Minguin galing po MDL. Tapos yung tatlo ko pong kasama hindi pa po napag-playoffs last season. Tapos ako po galing bench. Wala kaming superstar pero may goal po kami,” John emphasized.</p><p>John also shared that the steady rise in support has been a big boost to his confidence.</p><p>“Sa akin po, sobrang saya ko na may mga fans pala ako. Kasi akala ko parang (wala pero) sobrang dami pala noong nakalipat na ako. Kasi parang in-expect nila na maglalaro ako. Sobrang thankful ko sa mga fans na sumusuporta sa akin talaga. Kaya isa rin sila sa ginagawa ko motivation para magpatuloy pa,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:660px;display:block" width="660"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779023925417John-Sumawan-4.jpg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Courtesy: Richard Esguerra</em></span></span></span></div><p>The competitive roamer added that this time, he finally feels recognized as his own player. </p><p>“Siguro ngayon medyo natutuwa ako kasi last season po nung nasa TL pa ako parang feeling ko nadadamay lang ako. Feeling ko mga kakampi ko lang yung mas ano mas kilala parang ganon. And ngayon parang kilala rin po nila ako na naglalaro parang ganon,” John admitted.</p><p>Meanwhile, he also reflected on how he began as a simple “RG boy” from Pampanga before eventually turning professional.</p><p>“Yung parang grind na talaga na umabot na ako ng top rankings ng 2021. Lahat po talaga nagsisimula sa ranked games eh. Tapos pag may nakalaro kang pro parang sasabihin pa-try out niyo ‘to tingnan natin kung magaling. Tapos nakapasok po ako sa tryout,” he recalled.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxUf-XaLv-s/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=502&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7213369.199999809%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="517" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Since then, he made his MPL debut in Season 10 as a roamer for RSG Philippines before going on to play for other teams, including ONIC Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:660px;display:block" width="660"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779023981836John-Sumawan-5.jpg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Courtesy: Richard Esguerra</em></span></span></span></div><p>And now, John shared that he is using his current career earnings to gradually pursue his long-time dream of finishing college.</p><p>“Siguro po habang peak po yung Mobile Legends ngayon lahat po ng earnings ko dito iniipon ko lang po kasi gusto ko po talaga mag-college e. Gusto ko pong gastusan yung sarili ko. More on computers po kasi ako, (plan kong mag-take ng) IT po. Yun po yung pangarap ko nung bata ako talaga. Kaso yun nga po, hirap po ako financially,” he recalled</p><p>He went on to share how he is now able to provide for his family in his own way: “Kada salary po binibigyan ko po sila ng part ng salary… Pero gusto kong umabot ako sa point na natutulungan ko yung pamilya ko at the same time, parang may tabi ako sa sarili ko. Gusto ko ganun na mangyari sa aking future.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:660px;display:block" width="660"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779024042141John-Sumawan-6.jpg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Courtesy: Richard Esguerra</em></span></span></span>John, who continues to serve as roamer, has been a key piece in his current team&#x27;s push as they officially secured a spot in the Playoffs.</div><p>“Tini-treat namin ngayon sa second half talaga lahat ng games na parang crucial kahit game 1, game 2, parang every game is important para sa amin. Sobrang confident ko na makapasok kami gawa ng momentum namin tsaka ng bonding namin,” he expressed.</p><p>Catch MPL PH’s Perkziva in action this upcoming playoffs, happening from May 27 to 30 at the San Juan Arena.</p>

<p>Esports star John Sumawan, aka Perkziva, gets candid about his journey from sixth man to a bigger role this MPL PH Season 17, as he also credits his former teams for his growth.</p>

Esports star John Sumawan, aka Perkziva, gets candid about his journey from sixth man to a bigger role this MPL PH Season 17, as he also credits his former teams for his growth.

EXCLUSIVE: Perkziva rises from unsung backup to breakout player while saving for college dreams

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EXCLUSIVE: Perkziva rises from unsung backup to breakout player while saving for college dreams

Jemuel Tandoc,

Push Team

Published May 17, 2026 09:25 PM PHT

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Perkziva

John Sumawan

Smart Omega

Team Liquid Philippines

MPL PH Season 17

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