By Elaisha L. Pomida, BA Comm-4, The Centralian Link Intern

The Philippine Esports Awards officially announces Golden Lions Esports athlete Nathan Zech “Zechariah Carey” Pugales of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science 3 as a nominee for two major national recognitions: Esports Athlete of the Year, and Esports Pro Controller Athlete of the Year, on February 14, 2026.

In recognition of his global and national achievements in competitive gaming, CPU Golden Lions Esports (GLE) athlete Nathan Zech “Zechariah Carey” Pugales, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science student, was named by the Philippine Esports Awards (PEA) as a nominee for two national distinctions: Esports Athlete of the Year and Esports Pro Controller Athlete of the Year.

The PEA has named Pugales as “one of the Philippines’ most promising Tekken 8 competitors”, honoring his over 20 championship titles across local, regional, and national esports tournaments—including his triumph at the Alliance Games Tekken 8 Nationals where he bested Tekken 8 World Champion and pro-player Alexandre “AK” Lavarez.

Internationally, Pugales finished in the Top 16 of Manila Madness 4, a Tekken World Tour Challenger Event, and represented the Philippines at the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) in 2025, where he placed 129th out of nearly 1,000 competitors worldwide.

“(This nomination) means a lot! I honestly did not expect this at all, as I started competing just for fun. It means the world to me that my wins are being recognized. It is also amazing to see the support from my family and friends. I am eternally grateful for everyone’s support”, said Pugales.

Tournament champion Nathan Zech “Zechariah Carey” Pugales (in the middle) poses with his trophy and medal alongside fellow winners during the Alliance Games Nationals Season 5, held at Bonifacio Global City, Manila on April 23 of last year.

Furthermore, should Pugales emerge victorious, the Philippine Esports Awards’ distinctions will not be his first nationally acclaimed recognitions of the same title. In 2025, the AcadArena Awards hailed Pugales as the #NotJustPlay Athlete of the Year.

“My plan is to keep competing and always do my best. I have won both local and national tournaments, so I hope that one day, even if it takes a long time, I can win an international tournament as well. I will continue working hard toward that goal,” Pugales told The Centralian Link when asked about his steps moving forward as an esports athlete.

Organized by Esports Prime Media PH Incorporated, the PEA hails itself as the “premier awards giving authority” in the esports industry in the Philippines.