By Roselle Mitch G. Anas

CPU CCS student, Zech Pugales takes home the championship title at the MC3D Prime HO Cebu Grand Opening LAN Tournament – TEKKEN.

What started as a childhood pastime eventually became a competitive pursuit for Nathan Zech C. Pugales, a student from the Central Philippine University (CPU) – College of Computer Studies (CCS), who emerged as champion of the MC3D Prime HO Cebu Grand Opening LAN Tournament – TEKKEN Tournament, held last October 3-4, 2026.

For Pugales, his journey in Tekken began, according to him, when he was only six or seven years old– young and simply there to enjoy the game. However, what started as playing for fun eventually developed into a deeper commitment during the pandemic, when he spent more time learning the game and sharpening his skills.

His introduction to Iloilo’s competitive TEKKEN scene eventually led him to local tournaments, where he began testing his abilities against other players. In 2022, at 17, Pugales claimed his first championship at Unicon 2022 in SM Iloilo, an achievement that encouraged him to pursue competitive gaming further.

“I wanted to see how far I could go competitively,” Pugales shared.

Since then, his motivation has remained rooted in his love for the game and the competition that comes with it. Beyond winning, he found fulfillment in learning new techniques, improving his gameplay, and challenging himself against stronger opponents.

The community also played a significant role in his development as a player. Through TEKKEN, Pugales met friends and gained guidance from members of the Iloilo Tekken Community, including players who mentored him along the way, particularly his Manong John. Moreover, Pugales credited his family, friends, teammates, and the wider TEKKEN community for helping him reach his current level.

Experience became one of his greatest advantages when competing. Having participated in tournaments at the local, national, and international levels, Pugales grew familiar with the pressure of competition and the need to adapt quickly during matches.

During the tournament in Cebu, some of his most challenging moments came against opponents who sharply criticize even on the smallest mistakes. Rather than allowing the pressure to manipulate his performance, Pugales focused on maintaining his composure, observing his opponents’ habits, and staying patient.

For him, controlling the pace of a match could be just as important as attacking.

“Sometimes, especially when you already have the life lead, playing safely, controlling the pace, and letting your opponent take the risk is the better decision,” he emphasized.

That mindset helped carry him through the competition and ultimately toward the championship.

Yet for Pugales, the victory represented more than another tournament title. As a student of CPU – College of Computer Studies, he saw the competition as an opportunity to represent both his college and the University through something he had pursued for years.

“Being able to use something that started as a hobby to represent my school in major competitions is something I’m very proud of,” he said.

Looking ahead, Pugales hoped to continue competing in larger TEKKEN tournaments, including more events under the Tekken World Tour. Having already competed locally, nationally, and internationally, he intended to take his competitive journey further while remaining committed to completing his degree.

For aspiring student gamers, his message was simple, “keep playing, keep learning, and do not be afraid of losing,” he said, for a lot of improvement comes from experience, particularly when competing against players who are more experienced or skilled.

At the same time, Pugales emphasized the importance of responsibility as a student, competitive gaming, he believed, could be pursued alongside education as long as students continued to prioritize their academic responsibilities.

From a kid picking up Tekken for fun to a student-athlete shining on the bigger stage, Pugales’ journey showed how passion, discipline, and community could turn a simple pastime into something worth taking seriously.