After getting buried in Nexplay EVOS’ bench last season, John Paul “H2wo” Salonga is eager to bounce back and prove his worth in RSG Slate PH’s redemption campaign in the MPL Philippines Season 11.
The 20-year-old jungler was acquired by the MPL Philippines Season Nine champion after Nexplay EVOS wiped out its roster – leaving only Jeniel “YellyHaze” Bata-anon – to make way for its partnership with Minana Esports.
H2wo is set to assume the jungler post vacated by former Rookie of the Season Jhonard “Demonkite” Caranto, who decided to take a one-season break after the 2022 MPL cycle.
“Siguro last season hindi lang ako nabigyan ng playing time pero gigil pa rin naman po ako maglaro last season,” H2wo said during the Season 11 media day at the GAMA Studios.
“Hindi lang po ako nabigyan ng playing time.”
H2wo only played seven out of NXPE’s 14 matches in the previous season. He started in all of the team’s first-half assignments before eventually taking the backseat for rookie Ken “Kzen” Pile, who assumed the jungler role in the second half.
Nexplay EVOS eventually ended the regular season with a 2-12 record – tied with TNC at the last spot – which forced them to miss the playoffs for the first time since joining the league through the open qualifiers back in Season Six.
H2wo acknowledged the pressure of joining an RSG PH team that made great strides in the previous year but he insisted that he’s more than ready to deliver for his new team after putting in the extra work during the off-season.
RSG PH, who will be playing without Demonkite and mid laner Arvie “Aqua” Calderon, is coming off an impressive year that saw them win the MPL Philippines Season Nine title and the 2022 MSC championship before finishing Season 10 in third place.
“Saka ready po ako sa RSG ngayon kasi nasa main five po ako ng RSG kaya parang mas double effort po ako ngayon and gigil sobra,” said H2wo, who averaged 2.12 kills, 2.65 deaths, and 3.24 assists last season.
H2wo thanked RSG PH for taking a chance on him and vowed to repay their trust by helping them reclaim the crown they lost.
“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa RSG, [sa] mga bago kong ka-teammates at kay coach [Panda] kase pinaglaban at tinanggap nila ako,” he said.
“Wala pa naman ako sobrang napatunayan, kahit wala naman talaga ako dapat patunayan, pero tinanggap nila ako, mga champs. Excited na ako sa bagong yugto ng buhay ko.”
