There were two that stood tall in the FSL DOTA 2 solos tournament. One was one of the most recognizable figures in the female DOTA 2 scene who just recently carried Pacific Pink to a championship banner against Asterisk in FSL Elite 2019. The other was an enigma whose achievements go unnoticed. Only a few, who are deeply devoted to the female DOTA 2 scene would realize her role in leading the best female DOTA 2 teams in Mindanao and only a handful would notice that she has been a part of the Female DOTA 2 scene since FSL Season 2.
So when the FSL DOTA 2 solos were announced, it was time that the flame in Reca which has yet to reach its boiling point to finally spread and wreck havoc.
She is an account executive, a competitive DOTA 2 player, and most notably a loving wife and mother.
Reca or Cakurie never attracted the same attention as Meeri as she never garnered a championship accolade. Meeri had played for two title winning female DOTA 2 squads in both ArkAngel and Pacific Pink, whereas Cakurie had a small ounce of bragging rights for her teams would only shine in Mindanao. Her teams would oftentimes deliver a solid outing per season, but could not acquire that long awaited prestige of being branded as the best female DOTA 2 team in Southeast Asia. During her stint in Where To Feed, she showed glimpses of skill dominating most opponents with ease. Her tandem with Midjoy and Chizuru/Setsuna was intimidating against the average opposition but when facing the elites the trio became an afterthought.
Internally things didn't pan out well as the team struggled a lot with the pressure of being involved in a competitive esports landscape, and in the middle of FSL Season 6 as the team's momentum was rolling after a 4 game winning streak in a group which featured powerhouses such as Asterisk, TNC Amazons, Team Freya, Glorious Queens, and Grills Gaming, the team suddenly disbanded. No one knows what would've happened if the team didn't disband. During that season, TNC Amazons, Freya, and Grills Gaming all pulled out of the tournament, right after Where to Feed announced their departure. Imagine the storylines if Where to Feed remained intact. They would've reached the playoffs and they could potentially cause a stir by upsetting the likes of Pacific Pink and Asterisk. A resounding victory would finally give the Female DOTA 2 scene in Mindanao, a region blessed with potential female DOTA 2 talent, the respect and attention that it desperately needed. Unfortunately, none of these outcomes materialized. Cakurie had dedicated her life with Where to Feed since 2014 and seeing its collapse was a gut-wrenching experience. The sacrifices she had to endure for four straight years was thrown into the abyss.
"There was a lot of drama involved," Reca recounted. "The criticisms were getting out of hand, comparisons between teammates were hurting a lot of feelings, and it was getting really toxic. There was no point in carrying on."
For the first time in her career, Reca was a free agent and she was immediately determined to start anew. Grills Gaming, a team that has been involved in the female DOTA 2 scene since FSL Season 4, likewise disbanded in FSL Season 6. This paved the way for Reca to go beyond her usual borders in Mindanao by befriending Malaysian based former FSL champion iStarx, leading to the formation of Ascende Superious where Reca and her longtime teammate and friend Shalltear (formerly Chizuru/Setsuna) teamed up with iStarx's acquaintances, Merody and Badabing, two very familiar faces in the competitive Female DOTA 2 scene with the former being an integral piece in Asterisk's championship run in FSL Season 5.
Her new team proved to be a dominant force as they punched their way to the grand finals of FSL DOTA 2 Open in 2019. Their opponents however were no walk in the park as Reca and her teammates were up against Pacific Pink who just recently acquired Meeri, who was considered to be one of the best midlaners in the female DOTA 2 scene after a dominant display in the Flight of the Valkyries tournament. Though their efforts were valiant, Ascende Superious were swept aside by Pacific Pink. After the loss, the team parted ways for reasons unknown.
So close yet no cigar for Reca who has been desperately eyeing for a championship throughout her career. This was the closest as the rest of 2019 was unforgiving. She was supposed to travel to Malaysia to compete but was declined by passport issues and her stint with Bosons during FSL DOTA 2 Elite in 2019 was met with an untimely disaster. During the qualifiers Bosons were eliminated due to issues in Reca's internet connection, forcing the team in a handicapped situation. The only saving grace was a 3rd place finish in Liga Adarna.
Throughout her experience, Reca realized how the difficulties she had to endure have broaden her perspective about the female DOTA 2 scene. She recalled those times when she would organize practice sessions in order to enhance her team's chemistry. Sadly, the objectives weren't met as some of her teammates suddenly dropped out on the scheduled dates that they had all agreed upon. She recalled how frustrated she was when members don't show up for practice. Eventually she discovered that the roots of the issues with regards to scheduling stem from the fact that the female DOTA 2 scene isn't as properly supported as their male counterparts. Majority of the teams competing in female DOTA 2 tournaments aren't blessed with resources. Sponsors or endorses would knock on the door and immediately leave. Only a few organizations can afford to pay their players with a full-time salary, while the majority are left to survive on their own. This forces players to look for a job in order to earn income that would support themselves or their families, hampering their development as only a limited amount of time is spent on playing DOTA. Reca would oftentimes encounter this reality as she normally spends a lion's share of her day working. Once her job is finished she would attend to her child and husband. She concludes her day with a couple of DOTA matches.
"I love my family and I love the game of DOTA to the point where I only spend 4 hours sleeping."
Her day-to-day experience made her realize that the issues with the scene may have affected the morale of her teammates. The ideal setup in esports is that players spend the entire day playing games where a coach and manager oversees the operations. This clearly doesn't apply with most female DOTA 2 teams. Only a handful can afford to follow the traditional setup which includes the likes of Pacific Pink and Bren Esports.
It was a wake-up call where she discovered that she isn't just battling to win a championship, but she is likewise seeking for a way to help her team transcend. If her team wins a championship perhaps the long struggle of balancing a dayjob and playing DOTA may subside. An esports organization may consider sponsoring her team and treating each member as a full-time player, breaking the stigma that men are the only ones who have a voice in the competitive DOTA 2 scenery.
Though she has yet to fulfill her championship aspirations, Reca already had the right mindset to begin with. Shalltear commended her willingness to learn and her maturity when it comes to criticism. She even mentioned how composed she was even when faced with a monumental hurdle in a match. Her adaptability is her greatest asset as she can play multiple roles. Reca's former teammate Sherza Scarlet even acknowledged her mentorship in pointing out the mistakes that need to be addressed. iStarx praised her attitude, viewing her as a role model.
Her personality and dedication is admirable and only time will tell if she can finally attain the dream that she has been fighting for. Though things may be slowing down in 2020 as the COVID-19 outbreak is still at large which might affect the competitive female DOTA 2 scene, Reca's love for DOTA lingers on. The flame within her is still glowing amidst the darkness surrounding it.
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