It was a hard loss last season but coach Panda knows that there’s only one way for them to go and that’s forward.
Coach Brain “Panda” Chang-rok had a difficult task with RSG Philippines coming into MPL PH S14. While everyone knows that RSG is one of the strongest teams in the league, they always seem to fall short of greatness. Since season nine, where they took both the MPL PH and MSC 2022, they’ve failed to reach the same heights.
Never has that failure hurt as much as last season, where RSG fell to Falcons AP.Bren. They weren’t just denied a chance at MSC 2024, they were denied a chance to play in the biggest tournament in MLBB history so far. The loss was devastating for RSG, and it was coach Panda’s job to pick up the pieces and bring them back together.
“What I did after we faced that loss last season, I didn’t really console the team like saying ‘bawi na lang tayo next time’. Kasi paulit-ulit na lang yun.”
Panda has always been a direct and honest coach and though it sounds callous, he knows they can do better. “We’re not a new team. We’re veterans that have experienced a championship. So alam na namin yung mga qualifications para manalo, para maging champion.”
Honesty is the best policy for coach Panda and for RSG to take MPL PH S14 and making it to the M6 World Championship, he felt that the team needed this moment.
“Of course my players had a lot of regrets because they lost. So what I told them was ‘do not forget this moment. Keep it in your memories forever and use it as motivation to fuel your passions and efforts.’ I say that because you can’t put a lot of effort one day and then less effort the next day. That’s why I remind them and pressure them everyday to be consistent.”
99% Of The Way There
Coach Panda has the utmost faith in his team because their core players have remained the same. Nathaniel “Nathzz” Estrologo, Arvie “Aqua” Antonio, and Dylan “Light” Catipon have been with RSG even before they won MSC 2022. Coach Panda has nurtured the growth of this team and believes that they’re 99% of the way there when it comes to achieving their full potential.
“We wouldn’t have gotten this close if we changed teams every season,” said coach Panda. “A new player means you need to establish a new chemistry, especially with new rosters. But having the veteran players that I have, it’s like we’ve never lost our foundation. So I think we really close, we have the keys to make that 1%.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.
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