It was a season full of learning experiences for RSG’s star Jungler.
After spending one season competing in Malaysia, Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto is back with RSG Philippines with renewed focus. Despite winning the MPL Malaysia regular season MVP, Demonkite had a disappointing finish for 2023 after failing to qualify for the M5 world championship.
Now that he’s back on home soil, he’s aiming to rectify that.
“Yung failure na experience ko sa Malyasia, gusto ko ibawi dito. Kasi sobrang confident ako nung time na yon na kaya namin mag-dominate kasama ng team ko,” said Demonkite. “Unfortunately, hindi namin nakuha yung championship. Gusto ko siya ipagpatuloy dito, yung momentum na-gain ko sa Malaysia.”
For Demonkite, that momentum came from learning how to be more independent and disciplined. “Natutunan ko dun yung disiplina para sa sarili ko. Kasi nung nasa RSG PH pa ako, nag-rely ako kay coach Panda para mag-provide ng ganitong klaseng information, anong pwede kong i-adapt sa laro, tapos yung iba pang halaga. Sa Malaysia, ginawa ko yun lahat. Hindi ako umasa sa mga teammates o coaches ko para ibigay yun sa akin.”
This was ultimately Demonkite’s biggest challenge in Malaysia as he found it difficult to bond with his team. “Nung time ko doon, wala ako masyadong nakita na masipag sa game sa kanila, kaya nahirapan ako mag-build ng trust outside and inside the game,” admits Demonkite.
A difference in team cultures
Even though Demonkite played for both RSG Malaysia and the Philippines, the two teams approached the game in vastly different ways. Even with something as simple as practice, he found stark differences between the two.
“Sa Malaysia, free na sila after practice; parang may kanya-kanyang silang mundo. Yung sa PH, after ng scrims meron pang review, meron pang tanungan kung ano pang pwede i-adjust sa laro.” This was an area Demonkite felt like he could improve by drawing on his experience with the Philippine team. “Shinare ko sa kanila yung experience ko dito sa RSG PH… paano kami mag-review at paano palakasin yung individual skills namin.” And it certainly paid dividends, seeing as RSG Malaysia finished first by the end of the regular season.
Now it’s up to Demonkite to take that self-learned discipline to elevate himself and his team once again now that he’s back playing in the most competitive Mobile Legends region in the world.
Banner photo by MOONTON Games.
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