John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

Esports orgainzation Talon Esports formally signs a partnership with cryptocurrency trading platform Flipster, with the DOTA 2 division carrying the name Flipster Talon in Makati City on June 18, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Flipster Talon Signing

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175061068361620250618-flipster-talon-signing-MD-1478.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pinoy esports veteran Carlo &quot;Kuku&quot; Palad with his team, Flipster Talon.<em> Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – Talon Esports has certainly exceeded expectations since its founding in 2021, according to its founder and CEO Xiao &quot;Sean&quot; Zhang.</p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Zhang shared how the Philippine-based Dota 2 division has hit its strides, eventually claiming a podium finish at a major tournament.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/5/30/dota-2-kuku-flipster-talon-clinch-esports-world-cup-spot-1614"><strong>READ: GGWP! Kuku, Flipster Talon finish Top 3 in DreamLeague S26<br/></strong></a></div><p>Talon is now known as &quot;Flipster Talon&quot; after the global cryptocurrency trading platform Flipster secured its naming rights with the organization for the next year.</p><p>&quot;I think we&#x27;ve definitely overachieved,&quot; said Zhang. &quot;I think when we first started, we started in Division 2 of DPC, right? We had nothing. And then now, I guess we&#x27;ve established ourselves as one of the premier Dota teams here in Southeast Asia.&quot;</p><p>The Talon executive lauded Filipino Dota 2 star Carlo &quot;Kuku&quot; Palad, including his teammates Nuengnara &quot;23savage&quot; Teeramahanon of Thailand, Rafli &quot;Mikoto&quot; Fathur Rahman and Tri &quot;Jhocam&quot; Kuncoro of Indonesia, and Chung &quot;Ws&quot; Wei Shen of Malaysia for winning third-place at the recent DreamLeague Season 26, as well as a berth to the $3-million Esports World Cup.</p><p>&quot;I think the boys have had some amazing results just recently. DreamLeague finishing third, third at Riyadh Masters as well. Had some amazing performances as well.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/6/22/kuku-and-his-love-for-dota-2-1941"><strong>READ: Kuku and his love for Dota 2<br/></strong></a></div><p>His vision for the team included a wishful run to a Dota world championship at The International.</p><p>But those TI dreams will wait as the team failed to advance to the event itself this year, losing to Team Nemesis and Boom Esports at the regional qualifiers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/6/17/dota-2-boom-esports-dashes-talon-s-aegis-hopes-qualifies-at-ti-2025-2146"><strong>READ: Dota 2: Boom Esports dashes Talon&#x27;s Aegis hopes, qualifies at TI 2025</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/6/16/dota-2-5-man-pinoy-team-nemesis-marches-on-to-ti-2025-2102"><strong>READ: Dota 2: 5-man Pinoy Team Nemesis marches on to TI 2025<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;Of course, the end goal is to see if we can win a TI, win an international trophy for this region. Because obviously, SEA typically, historically, has underperformed compared to other regions as well. So, if we can bring an international trophy back, that&#x27;s always our objective,&quot; Zhang said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175061101383420250618-flipster-talon-signing-MD-1467.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(R) Youngsun Shin, Flipster&#x27;s Head of Product &amp; Partnerships and (R) Talon Founder &amp; CEO Xiao &quot;Sean&quot; Zhang. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>Meanwhile, Youngsun Shin, Flipster&#x27;s Head of Product &amp; Partnerships said they had to pounce on the opportunity of the wide reach of esports, particularly Dota in the Southeast Asian region.</div><p>&quot;I think Talon Esports in specific, we thought was a really great partner to start with given that there&#x27;s a wider breadth of teams that Talon Esports is bringing to the table,&quot; said Shin.</p><p>&quot;And then the presence across different regions, not only Hong Kong or Taiwan, they&#x27;re expanding to Philippines as part of their Dota 2 headquarters. There&#x27;s much more presence that we&#x27;ve seen.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U81PP4VEgC8??si=fTMFceyU-X-HwUDw&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Talon Esports has certainly exceeded expectations since its founding in 2021, according to its founder and CEO Xiao "Sean" Zhang.</p>

Talon Esports has certainly exceeded expectations since its founding in 2021, according to its founder and CEO Xiao "Sean" Zhang.

Dota 2: Talon Esports 'definitely overachieved' since its foundation, says founder

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Dota 2: Talon Esports 'definitely overachieved' since its foundation, says founder

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 23, 2025 08:00 AM PHT

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Flipster Talon

Carlo "Kuku" Palad

Talon Esports

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