Losing and learning is part of the process for the world champion EXP Laner.
Falcons AP.Bren has had a rough schedule coming into MPL PH S14 but that’s part of the process for David “FlapTzy” Canon and the team. Since the end of last season, the world champions have been traveling around the world nonstop to participate in tournaments. Granted, they’ve done exceptionally well in each tournament but exhaustion had to reach the players at some point.
“Feel ko parang kagaya lang nung [last year],” said FlapTzy. AP.Bren were in a similar position last year when they won the 2023 IESF World Esports Championship in Iasi, Romania, then had to immediately fly back to the Philippines to make it in time for their first match for season 12. They almost missed that window as well as they landed in the Philippines literally the evening before their first match.
This time they had a two-day buffer but that’s still not a lot of time to make preparations. In MPL S12, the Falcons AP.Bren lost their first game against Omega Esports and while disappointing, FlapTzy and the team have taken a pragmatic approach to the start of the season. “Yung mindset namin ay ok lang matalo sa first week kasi babawi kami next week. So bonus na lang kung manalo kami sa first week.”
This mindset has been instilled in the team after seasons of competing against the best players in the world. To them, it’s not about winning every game. “Part na yun sa process namin sa training,” says FlapTzy. “Pagaayos ng mga mali namin, pag-iisip ng bagong strategy.” For Falcons AP.Bren, it’s always about playing at your best and improving – win or lose.
“Hindi kami takot matalo; okay lang ang magkamali at matalo, basta nagagawa ang best namin.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.