PHNOM PENH – Ever since he joined ONIC Esports last year, the narrative has been that Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol has been carrying his Indonesian teammates throughout their one-year partnership.
Filipino fans, professional players, and even some shoutcasters have labeled all four of his teammates as burdens to the 17-year-old jungler, who has been nothing but impressive for the powerhouse Indonesian organization for the past year.
On Sunday night, just moments after lifting his first-ever international trophy, the 17-year-old Filipino jungler finally broke his silence about the issue and defended his teammates from their critics.
“Ano po e, yung mga taong nagsasabi niyan tingin ko po walang alam sa ML e, sa esports,” Kairi said in an interview with Filipino reporters following ONIC Esports’ 4-2 win over Blacklist International in the MSC 2023 grand finals.
Kairi said that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a team game and emphasized the importance of all five players working together to achieve success in the industry.
He also admitted that there are occasions when he underperforms, but he expressed gratitude for his teammates who support him, just as he supports them.
“Kahit saang sports po, kahit saang laro hindi naman po kasi ‘to chess na 1 v 1 lang e. Kumbaga teamwork talaga e, ‘di nila alam yung nangyayari outside the game, sa practice, sa shotcall, kumbaga kung pano yung flow ng laro,” said Kairi.
“Lahat po kami nagtutulungan e, kung may isa pong naga-underperform, kunwari ako po nag-underperform po ako sa isang game, bubuhatin po ako ng kakampi ko,” he continued.
“Mag-aangatan po kami kasi 5v5 po yung ML e, saka para sa akin po wala po yung mga nagbubuhat nagbubuhat. Siguro may game lang talaga na ganun pero overall, wala po e. Kumbaga sobrang halaga po ng lahat ng players.”
Kairi said that he is very grateful to ONIC Esports for embracing him and head coach Denver “Yeb” Miranda fully and treating them like one of their own.
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“Sobrang grateful po ako kasi po una napakaganda po ng environment. Parang ‘di nga po kami nagaaway-away e. Nagtatalo po kami pero sobrang mild lang, parang wala kang mafe-feel na pressure,” said the two-time MPL Indonesia champion.
“Kaya ang sarap talaga kapag kakampi sila tapos yung mga coaches, management sobrang sarap po makasama. Outside the game, inside the game, tropa po kaming lahat sobrang close po namin saka yun po, sobrang thankful po ako na napunta ako sa ONIC Esports,” Kairi added.
It was with ONIC Esports where Kairi won his first-ever MPL championship back in MPL Indonesia Season 10. He then secured his second one in the subsequent season before eventually breaking through in the international scene in the MSC.
Even though there were many challenges at first, the pride of Bataan said that everything proved to be worth it in the end as he lifted his first international trophy inside the Aeon Hall of the Aeon Mall Mean Chey here.
“Sobrang sarap po sa pakiramdam. Naranasan ko pong lumabas sa comfort zone ko na mag-laro sa Pinas. Ang dami pong challenge tapos sobrang nakakapagod, nakakastress pero worth it naman po.”
