By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen
As Twisted Minds gears up for its highly anticipated debut in MPL Philippines Season 15, Salic “Hadji” Imam embarks on a new chapter of his career.
Having been with Blacklist International since Season 8, Hadji now finds himself in a fresh environment, surrounded by new teammates ready to fight alongside him.
On February 12, the Saudi Arabia-based organization officially unveiled its roster for the season, with former TNC Pro Team roamer Joemarie “Escalera” Delos Santos leading the squad.
Joining Escalera and Hadji are Michael “MP the King” Endino, Jhonville “Outplayed” Villar, James “Jeymz” Gloria, Stephen “Sensui” Castillo, and Jamaloding “Jamal” Dimati.
“Siguro sa mga kakampi ko lang po ako naninibago. Sa coach wala naman po kaso coach ko naman po siya sa mga past seasons. Sa mga kakampi lang po ako talaga [naninibago] kase parang bagong team talaga,” said the 21-year-old mid laner.
“So feel ko sa in-game lang talaga nagkaka-disconnect. Pero in terms of bonding, okay naman po.”
Throughout MPL PH franchise history, new teams entering the league have often made an impact.
In Season 8, RSG PH debuted and went on to claim the MPL PH title in Season 9, followed by an international championship at the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup 2022.
Last season, Aurora joined the league and defied expectations, finishing as runners-up and earning a spot to represent the Philippines in the M6 World Championship.
Drawing inspiration from these success stories, Hadji sees Twisted Minds on a similar trajectory, acknowledging that the team is still in the process of building its chemistry.
“Feel ko parang RSG kami ngayon. Kase yung Aurora, parang may chemistry na sila. So kami, parang bini-build pa lang namin yung chemistry namin kase nga po yung mga players is parang hindi naging magka-team before. Parang naging kakampi ko lang po is si MP The King,” he shared.
Despite stepping into uncharted territory, Hadji isn’t feeling the pressure. His mindset is clear — focus on giving his best and contributing to the team’s success.
“Feel ko normal lang po. Basta maibigay ko lang yung best ko,” he said.
