TNC Pro Team head coach Ben “Benthings” Maglaque was visibly upset when facing members of the media after his team suffered their 12th loss this season, marking their worst showing in franchise history.
Instead of their losing record, it was his players’ lackluster performance against ONIC Philippines that irked the rookie coach.
“Same pa rin na walang nagdedesisyon sa late game. Alam nila kung ano ang gagawin pero hindi nila ginagawa. Halimbawa, ‘yung Hilda, X.Borg, kahit bago, alam nila kung sino ang dapat itapat sa Ling pero hindi namin nagawa. Parang ang bulshit nung nangyari. Palala nang palala,” explained Benthings on why they lost to ONIC.
TNC showed promise early this season by earning their first win in their third match but failed to follow up as their weaknesses kept getting exploited by other teams throughout the season.
Several coaches in the league have acknowledged TNC as a really strong early-game team, often establishing significant leads against top teams, but repeatedly squandered their leads with costly errors in the late game.
“Sobrang disappointed ako. Ayaw ko masaktan kasi hindi naman na nagmamatter pero para sa kanila na lang sana. Kung paano sila magpeprepare sa susunod na season. Kung mapapalipat man sila sa ibang team. Ayaw pa nilang ipakita sa last two games kahit hindi naman na nagmamatter ‘yung points. Pero same pa din. Hindi makapagdesisyon nang sarili. Hindi alam ang ginagawa. Nalilito. Hindi ko na alam,” said a visibly upset Benthings.
He admitted that it was the first time he openly expressed disappointment in front of the media as he had remained positive throughout the season despite TNC’s struggles.
However, he could no longer contain his emotions after his team failed once again to capitalize on their early-game lead against ONIC Philippines, ultimately succumbing to a 2-0 sweep.
“First time lang ako nakitang sobrang disappointed sa media. Mabigat lang talaga sa loob. ‘Yung gusto ko kasi sa mga bata, parang hindi ko maibigay ‘yung full potential nila. Pinipilit ko silang tulungan. Halos ‘yung nangyayari, alam naman namin ‘yung gagawin pero hindi maexecute sa MPL,” added the player-turned-coach.
“Di ko alam kung ano ‘yung iniisip. Di ko alam kung ano ‘yung pumipigil na gawin ‘yung mga bagay na alam nila. Ang hirap. Kahit iexplain mo, naturo mo na lahat tapos napalakas mo na loob nila, namotivate mo sila, hindi pa rin magawa. Parang ayoko nang hanggang dun na lang sila. Dun ako naiinis eh.”
His disappointment stems from the belief that his players still have so much more to show but time and again fail to perform on the MPL stage where it matters the most.
“Pag top eight madalas may konting adjustment yan sa line-up. Napamahal na sakin ‘yung mga bata eh. Gusto ko ipakita nila kung ano ‘yung pwede nilang iambag dun sa lilipatan nilang team. ‘Yung sa last two matches sana ‘yun ang gusto kong makita pero hindi pa rin talaga malabas kaya mabigat siya. Malungkot,” Benthings said.
Goldlaner Robee “Yasuwo” Pormocille agreed with his coach’s sentiments.
“Naiintindihan ko po siya kasi ilang beses na rin namin napag-uusapan sa team. Tas parang walang nangyayari,” said Yasuwo of Benthings.
