AP Bren

Origins and a Change in Ownership

The organization was established on 16 August 2017 by Bernard 'Bren' Chong, a member of the family that owns the World Balance brand. For its first six years, the team competed under the name Bren Esports, building its reputation in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.

In July 2023, a significant transition occurred when the esports team was purchased by Aces Pro Corp. This acquisition led to a complete change in executive leadership, with founder Bernard Chong being replaced as chief executive officer by Jean Alphonse 'AJ' Ponce. The team officially adopted its current name, Aces Pro Bren Esports, commonly shortened to AP Bren, marking a new chapter while retaining its competitive legacy.

The Mobile Legends Dynasty Begins

The organization's greatest achievements and fame are rooted in its Mobile Legends: Bang Bang division. The team's competitive journey in the game began in earnest on 22 July 2018, when Bren Esports acquired the complete roster of the team Aether Main. This six-player squad, consisting of YellyHaze, Pein, Ribo, Yuji, Coco, and 666, instantly made an impact.

Just one week later, on 29 July 2018, that same roster, playing under the Aether Main name, won the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) 2018 at the Jakarta International Expo in Indonesia. This victory marked the organization's first major championship title. The team continued to compete in local tournaments for the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Philippines.

Roster Evolution and Domestic Triumph

Following the initial success, the roster underwent a period of significant change. Player 666 left in January 2019, replaced by Ejhay in February. Later in July 2019, Pein departed and was replaced by Teng. By October 2019, Teng, Yuji, and YellyHaze had also left, leaving only Ribo and Coco from the original Aether Main acquisition.

A major rebuilding phase began in early 2020. On 10 January, KarlTzy, Pheww, and Lastii joined the player roster, with Ducky signing as head coach. FlapTzy joined the team on 2 July 2020. Around this time, Coco moved from the playing roster to an analyst role. This new lineup quickly proved its worth. In October 2020, they captured the MPL Philippines Season 6 championship, defeating Smart Omega Esports 4-2 in a best-of-seven series. This title was their first major trophy under the Bren Esports franchise name.

Conquering the World at M2

The team's top performance arrived at the M2 World Championship in Singapore in January 2021. To reach the grand final, Bren Esports had to climb from the lower bracket, where they defeated two leading Indonesian teams, RRQ Hoshi and Alter Ego. This set up a rematch against Burmese Ghouls.

In a dramatic best-of-seven final, Bren Esports emerged victorious with a 4-3 score, claiming the world championship. The team won $140,000 from the $300,000 total prize pool. Karl 'KarlTzy' Nepomuceno was named the Finals MVP and received an additional $3,000 award. KarlTzy had joined in Season 5 and, during his four seasons with Bren, also won an esports gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games alongside the MPL PH Season 6 title. He announced his departure from the team in December 2021, as did player Ejhay.

Sustained Success and Strategic Partnership

AP Bren maintained its position as a top team after the departure of its star player. The organization continued to secure prestigious victories in various competitions. These included first place at the SIBOL 2023 National Team Selection, winning the IESF World Esports Championship in 2023, securing a gold medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, and taking first place at the Games of the Future in 2024. The team also placed third in the Snapdragon Pro Series Season 3 SEA Challenge Finals in 2023.

Prior to the MPL Philippines Season 13 playoffs, the organization entered a notable partnership with the Saudi Arabian-based Team Falcons, announced by MPL Philippines and AP Bren. Reports indicated Team Falcons approached AP Bren first to align both organizations' goals for the playoffs and the subsequent MSC 2024 in Riyadh, ensuring the arrangement was mutually beneficial. The partnership concluded after the M6 World Championship. Team Falcons then entered MPL Philippines as a separate entity for Season 15, acquiring the roster of MDL Philippines champions Lazy Esports.

Competing Across Multiple Games

While Mobile Legends is its flagship, AP Bren maintains a broad multi-game presence. The organization fields or has fielded competitive teams in numerous titles including CS:GO, PUBG, League of Legends, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Clash Royale, Arena of Valor, Rules of Survival, Valorant, and Tekken 7.

In Arena of Valor, Bren Esports participated in the Cup Season 3 semi and grand finals in the Philippines on 1 October 2018, competing against teams from Singapore, Malaysia, and fellow Filipino team Maxbox Gaming. The organization also had a notable run in Valorant. In September 2021, their Valorant squad qualified for the Valorant Champions Tour Stage 3 Masters in Berlin by winning the Southeast Asia Challengers Playoffs. However, travel visa issues related to national COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented the team from attending the LAN event. This Valorant roster was later acquired by another organization, Team Secret.

Female Competition and National League Presence

The organization has also supported female competitors through its team, Bren Victress. In June 2019, Bren Victress secured third place at the Female Esports League (FSL) for Mobile Legends held in Singapore. That same month, the main Bren Esports team participated in MSC 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. They beat Team Resolution of Myanmar on the first day but were defeated by Overclockers of Vietnam on the second day, resulting in elimination.

In domestic Philippine competition, the organization competes under the name Bren EPro in the national esports league known as The Nationals, demonstrating its deep roots in the country's competitive scene.