Blacklist International may no longer be in the MPL but it still lives on with its players and coaches.
The MPL PH S15 may not have Blacklist International but they’re not totally gone, especially with Twisted Minds coach BON CHAN helming a new team.
Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza had been with Blacklist since they entered the MPL in 2020. In the five years he’s been with the team they’ve won three MPL trophies, a SEA Games gold medal, and the M3 World Championship. He’s achieved much with the Codebreakers but now he’s ready to move on and start over with Twisted Minds.
“Nung kinausap ko yung Twisted Minds, gusto ko malaman muna yung goals nila – ano yung vision nila. Kasi I’m looking for a long term relationship sa org na lilipatan ko,” said Twisted Minds coach BON CHAN. “Nag-research ako sa status ng pangalan nila, ano yung sinasabi ng tao sa kanila. Maganda, sobrang maganda yung feedback na narining ko. Dun ko alam na pupunta ako sa mabuting kamay. Hindi sa org na maiipitan ako o malalagay sa situation na mahirap gumalaw. So why not? Let’s start fresh and enjoy the journey.”
The Spirit Lives On
“I think yung mga experiences ko last season ay isa sa mga factors na magiging diskarte ko dito sa Twisted Minds,” said coach BON CHAN. He reflected on his last seasons with Blacklist, how it was undoubtedly one of the hardest seasons of his career.
2024 Blacklist was plagued with a revolving roster with unproven players, unfavorable meta, and mounting pressure to perform. Despite all the difficulties, there were glimmers of hope for the team. They may have fallen short on returning to the international stage but the fact that they got close twice was ultimately a big confidence boost for Twisted Minds coach BON CHAN and his team.
“At first, nung last season, medyo natatakot pa ako kasi umalis yung mga key players ko,” he continued. “Nung natapos yung season, nung nakita ko yung mga possibilities kung saan kami mage-endup, dun ko nakuha yung confidence na di naman ganun kahirap na mag start from scratch.”
Of course, it’s not a totally fresh start for Twisted Minds coach BON CHAN. A good third of the players of the Twisted Minds team came from last year’s Blacklist roster so the coach is working with familiar faces. He even admitted in an interview with the media that he asked these specific players to join him. It’s not just because he’s worked with them before but also because he saw that they had the drive to keep grinding and improving. That’s the Blacklist culture that he wants to bring forward to the organization.
“Nandun pa rin naman talaga yung spirit ng Blacklist. Yung mga naging samahan namin dati, yung ginawang sacrifices namin, nandun pa rin talaga at hindi mawawala.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.