Hamezz

Hamezz, whose given name is James Shantos, is a support player from the Philippines who competed under the banner of Team Mineski before stepping away from professional League of Legends. Now retired, he was part of the Southeast Asian competitive landscape during a period when the region was carving out its own distinct identity within the wider Asian esports picture.

The Art of Support

Support is a role of service and vision, both literal and figurative. The player must safeguard their bot lane partner, seize control of the map through warding, and read the flow of teamfights well enough to know when to engage and when to hold back. It is a thankless position by design, one where the greatest contributions frequently go unnoticed by casual viewers even as teammates lean on them constantly. Hamezz operated in this demanding space, tasked with keeping his carries alive and enabling their damage output.

His champion of note was Varus, an interesting and telling choice for a support. While traditionally a marksman, Varus can be deployed in the support role to lean into a poke-and-pressure style, using his long-range Piercing Arrow to whittle down opponents from a safe distance and to threaten the enemy laners before fights ever begin. Picking up such a champion signals a player comfortable with aggressive, damage-oriented lane setups rather than purely defensive protection.

Representing Southeast Asia

Team Mineski was one of the notable organizations to fly the flag for Filipino and Southeast Asian esports across multiple titles. Competing under that name meant carrying regional pride into matches, at a time when Southeast Asia was steadily building the infrastructure and recognition its players deserved. For a support like Hamezz, that context added weight to every appearance on stage.

A Retired Contributor

With his playing days concluded, Hamezz is remembered as one of the many players who helped populate and strengthen the Philippine League of Legends scene. His willingness to embrace an unconventional support pick like Varus speaks to a competitor who understood the value of adaptability. Though his career has closed, his participation forms part of the foundation on which Southeast Asian League of Legends continues to build.