MAKATI – As Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo captured the first savage of his professional career, the crowd inside the Green Sun Hotel erupted. The 21-year-old midlaner tore through defenses and allowed instinct to take over as he smashed his Kimmy into AP.Bren’s base.
“Di-nive ko na. After the game, Yue laughed as she recalled, “Sabi ko, ‘akin, akin, akin.”
It was an uncommon act of carelessness from a player who usually plays calmly and carefully. Yue had been known to fans for years as the cool-headed midlane centerpiece. However, this instance demonstrated that Aurora’s Yue could light up the highlight reels as well
From Safe Player to Playmaker
Aggression wasn’t always his style.
“Hindi ako yung masyadong aggressive,” Yue admitted in an interview with Fulcrum Esports. “Ang laruan ko before is more on play safe na may kaunting aggression lang. Masyadong mataas yung map awareness ko. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga kalaban na papatay sa akin.”
Even his name reflects his steady, watchful approach. “Yue” comes from the Chinese word 月亮 (Yuèliàng), meaning “moon,” inspired by his favorite hero, Chang’e. Like the moon, he influenced games quietly from a distance.
He honed his craft in the amateur scene with Sinag Pilipinas and later MHRLK Esports, where he shared the stage with future MPL talents like Cymond “Cy” Torres and Neil Aldrin “Dr1nsanity” Fontanilla. Back then, Yue wasn’t a shot-caller, he followed, trusted, and learned.
“Mas nagsasalita na ako ngayon kaysa dati,” Yue reflected. “Dati kasi, tahimik lang talaga ako maglaro. Follower lang ako sa mga shot call ng kakampi ko, sumusunod lang ako.”
Leadership might not have come naturally, but trust did.
“Ang na-translate ko is yung tiwala ko sa kakampi,” he said. “Kung ano yung kino-call nila na play, 100% na support ako.”
The Breakthrough with SIBOL
His early breakthrough, the SIBOL 2022 qualifiers for the IESF World Esports Championship, was made possible by that trust.
Yue and his team stunned ECHO in the semifinals while facing formidable teams, pushing Blacklist International’s M3-winning lineup to the limit. Yue was drafted into the national team along with Blacklist’s core and his teammate Joshua Kyle “Jade” Villarde from MHRLK, despite their eventual failure.
Yue gained priceless experience on the international scene as the team went on to win silver in Bali. He was unaware at the time that SIBOL had paved the way for the next phase of his career.
Rookie of the Year with Blacklist
Yue formally became a member of Blacklist International in 2023. The decision paid off right away; he was named Rookie of the Season and established himself as one of the most dependable mages in the league.
He attributed his development to the renowned team of Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario and Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna.
Yue stated, “Noong naging kakampi ko sila (V33wise), nakita ko kung paano sila maging leader ng isang team.” “If I can maintain the composure of this team, we may be able to overcome any obstacles.”
Yue became one of the MPL’s top “mage gods” under their tutelage, honing both his mechanics and his judgment.
Grounded with Aurora
Yue has developed into Aurora Gaming’s reliable core and is currently in his third consecutive season with the company. Yue stays firmly grounded as Aurora is positioned as a title contender in MPL Philippines Season 16 and is aiming for a spot in the M7 World Championship.
“Kung suswertihin ako, apat. Pero kapag minalas, wala,” he said candidly when asked about possible trophies.
Why the realism? His focus stays firmly on the present.
“Para sa’kin kasi, hindi muna ako tumitingin sa future. Kung ano muna yung meron sa present, doon lang ako naka-focus,” Yue explained.
Words for the Next Generation
For aspiring players who look up to him, Yue offers simple but powerful advice:
“Ipagpatuloy lang ang ginagawa ninyo. More hard work, grind lang ng grind. And huwag panghinaan ang loob. Kasi pag napanghihinaan ka ng loob, matatalo ka.”
The Moon That Stays Grounded
From Valenzuela’s amateur halls to SIBOL, Blacklist, and now Aurora, Yue has built his name on consistency, humility, and growth. His in-game name may mean “moon,” but while he aims high, he never loses sight of the ground beneath him.
Savage plays and trophies may be on the horizon, yet Yue’s focus is steady, not on what’s ahead, but on what’s right in front of him.
