Turbulent times will always test a champion’s mettle.
It’s been tough for the 2023 WEC champions AP.Bren and coach Francis “Ducky” Glindro knows it. As the second half of the MPL PH season 12 unfolds, the team is in the middle of the pack after a rough, winless week three.
“They’re just not used to losing,” says coach Ducky. There’s no hint of sarcasm in his voice, “I’m asking my boys to take their minds off the week, get some rest, and we’ll talk when we get back.”
Week three was a rocky one for all the MPL teams because of the new patch. Drastic changes were made to the game and the coach admits that there’s a lot they need to work on. However, a big factor he points to is fatigue.
It’s no secret that AP.Bren was on an international tear-up until their return to the MPL PH. That also meant that they had the least amount of time to rest before the regular season started again. In fact, they almost missed their first game of the season due to travel delays forcing them to return to the Philippines on the night before. Still, coach Ducky is honest with the current performance of AP.Bren. “That’s not really an excuse for us to be performing this way.”
When The GAME asked coach Ducky if the Philippine region’s strength, compared to international competition, was a factor, he said it was difficult to say. “We are the most resilient region, I think that’s the better way to put it,” said the coach. “We know how to adjust really well to whatever the game throws at us.”
Coming into week four, coach Ducky already knows what he and his team need to focus on. “I think the most important thing is just having fun,” he says, “parang nawala sa kanila ‘yon.”
It’s definitely all about the mental and confidence for AP.Bren going into the second half of the season.
Banner photo by Keith Medrano.
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