BNK Blufire management, headed by Filipino Dota icon Carlo “Kuku” Palad, and its entire MLBB roster have mutually agreed to part ways in the midst of the MPL-PH season, last September 9, Wednesday.
“Again, we are saddened to inform you the release of our MLBB roster players — Cedric Pasusani, Daniel Chu, Aaron Lim, Jay Villanueva, Louie Dampil, and Zach Gabionza under BNK Blufire effective today, 9th of September 2020,” read the statement by Palad obtained by Tiebreaker Times.
The roster which consists of Zach “S3cret” Gabionza, Jay “Crypzu” Villanueva, Daniel “Chuu” Chu, Aaron “Limz” Lim, Louie “Unseen” Dampil, and former MPL champion Cedrick “Fuzaken” Pasusani have been playing without pay for almost two weeks now along with stand-in coach Jeff “Jeffqt4ever” Franklin Anaya and manager Trish Muga.
The statement also noted that a player from the team left BNK’s boot camp at The Amaryllis in Quezon City without notice from the management. The player also failed to reach out to the BNK brass for almost three weeks.
This, unfortunately, forced Palad to pull the trigger on the release.
“As the team continues to struggle without him and considering that we are not allowed to change players then it would be hard for us to continue so with the mutual agreement of players and BNK we decided to release the team,” the statement said.
Despite the recent developments, captain S3cret expressed his utmost gratitude to the entire BNK management for helping the team kick-start their MPL journey.
“Gusto ko parin mag thank you sa kanila na ginawa nila lahat para samin, na sinalo nila kami kahit walang wala na kami. Nothing bad against them, nagkaroon lang talaga ng misunderstanding,” said Gabionza in an exclusive interview with Tiebreaker Times.
He also vowed that the team, even with the challenges that they currently face, will go all out in their remaining games and do whatever it takes to clinch a seat in the playoffs.
“Siguro sa ngayon parang lost kami and ‘di pa namin alam kung papaano or ano yung gagawin naming adjustment moving forward kasi sobrang naging mahirap talaga siya para samin na siguro di namin sinasabi na yun yung naging dahilan bat na apektuhan yung laro namin. Pero siguro part of it lang,” bared Gabionza.
“I can’t promise anything [to our fans] pero gusto ko mag thank you ng sobra sa mga sumuporta at sa mga anjan kahit puro talo kami, na sila yung nagiging dahilan kaya kahit papano inilalaban pa namin.”
The team will still carry the Blufire banner for the entirety of the season and play in their respective homes but without the support of the organization.
BNK is currently at the bottom of Group A with a 0-9 win-loss standing. The team still has a slim chance of getting into the playoffs, but they have to sweep all of their last four matches and hope that either Execration and Nexplay Solid would drop their remaining matches.
