Losing a key player is always difficult, but that’s not going to stop Aurora from pushing through.
It’s been a very hectic past few weeks for Aurora coach MtB and the rest of his boys, considering the major shift that’s happened with the team.
About a month ago, Renejay Barcase announced his departure from the team. Replacing him is Dylan “Light” Catipon. While movement among teams is common, the circumstances around the team and coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani made it a bigger headache than it needed to be.
“Nalaman namin available si Light after ng SIBOL qualifiers,” said Auroras coach MtB. “And then, kahit magsta-start na siya, alam ng team na aalis kami for MSC. So nag start sila ng scrims without a coach. Medyo nahihirapan nga sila kasi walang tumitingin sa ginagawa ng team. Wala din nagdra-draft sa kanila so medyo struggling yung simula.”
A rough start but on the whole, coach MtB is positive about their progress. “Mabilis sila matuto, ilang discussions lang naa-apply nila agad, wiling talaga yung team mag-adjust. So maganda pa rin yung nagiging practice ng team.”
That being said, he’s also keeping his expectations realistic. The latter half of the year is always the most intense since every team in the league is getting ready to fight for those top two spots into the M-series world championship. Aurora will be fighting as well, but there’s still more work to be done within the team.
“Sa ngayon, as in matatapos na yung season ngayon, tingin ko hirap kami makaabot ng playoffs,” said Aurora’s coach MtB. “Mabe-base yung magiging run namin kung gaanong kalaki yung improvement ng mga players at kaming coaches. So hindi siya yung instant na andyan na yung isang player, kaya na namin mag playoffs.”
Replacing a Pillar
On paper, replacing Renejay shouldn’t be too difficult a process for the team. Of course, you want to find someone of equal or greater skill but Aurora’s difficulties seem to go beyond replacing a Roamer.
“Siguro yun yung difference sa pagpalit ng isang player sa specific na role kaysa pagpalit ng isang player na may marami siyang hawak sa role niya,” explains Aurora’s coach MtB. “Yung playstyle ng team, nagre-revolve kay Renejay. Plus, outside ng game siya yung captain, siya yung leader, siya yung naging pillar ng team. So sa structure namin, tinggal namin yung pillar ng team so malaking kawalan siya.”
“Kung Roamer lang yung factor, masasabi natin na madali siyang palitan. Pero yung ginagawa niya sa team, yun yung mahirap palitan. So hindi lang yung bagong Roamer maga-adjust, kailangan yung apat pati kaming coaches mag-adjust din.”
Yet Aurora is still working hard despite their massive shakeup. It’s going to be difficult but coach MtB sees the potential in the team. The next few weeks will be critical but hope is still alive for Aurora. “Kapag mataas yung growth ng team, tingin ko kayang-kaya namin makisabay sa mga S+ tier na teams.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.