Fighting through hardships and setbacks is a skill every team needs and is what Fnatic ONIC is working on this season.
Fnatic ONIC PH and coach Anthony “Ynot” Senedrin had a lot to work on coming into MPL PH S14, with the team’s mentality being top priority. The team had a disappointing end to their previous season after going on a seven-match win streak. Now that they’re off to a strong start again, the team is looking to maintain that momentum.
“Nag level up lang talaga [yung team] this season and we made a big focus to work on our mental,” said coach Ynot. “Kung natalo kami, forget about it and let’s talk about the next game, let’s talk about the adjustments we need to make.”
On reflecting about their win streak last season, the coach said that they’d want for it to happen again but they also need to learn why they lost it in the first place. “Perhaps meron kulang sa preparations namin last season during the second leg, that’s one avenue we’re looking at. Another part of it is mental fortitude and toughness. And then there’s the studying, kase sakto yan na sa second leg may bagong patch. Isa yan sa trabaho namin na hindi puwede maiwan so we have to look forward.”
Avoiding the Tilt
One thing is for sure and that is Fnatic ONIC and coach Ynot do not want to repeat the massive dropoff they had at the tail end of the season. That’s why mental fortitude is their goal and that requires a team effort.
“Isang malaking factor dyan is management and how we handle our relationship with the players. Some organizations put too much pressure on the players,” said coach Ynot. “We’re trying to veer away from that because at the end of the day, we ask a lot from these players. It’s more of us understanding na they have the talent so it’s not about us, it’s them.
“Kailangan namin sila i-guide so whatever they want to do, we support them, and malaking bagay yan sa mental nila. And when it comes to the game, it’s only the five of them that are playing. So talagang masaya kami na both outside and inside the game, they’re like brothers, a family; yun yung treatment nila sa bawat isa.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.