Blacklist International team captain Johnmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna wants his rookie teammates to use their heartbreaking loss in the 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup grand finals as their main motivation in their young careers.
The Tier One-backed squad had the chance to continue the Philippines’ dominance in Moonton’s mid-season international tournament, but ONIC Esports proved to be on a different level, securing a 4-2 victory in the finale and becoming the only two-time MSC winner in the region.
While rookies Howard “Owl” Gonzales and Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo showed glimpses of their potential in the series, their lack of experience in high-stakes international games was evident, particularly in the crucial Game 6.
“Nakita naman natin talaga na kaya nilang sumabay, it just so happened na bago lang sila sa liga and kulang pa rin talaga sa experience since ito lang din yung first international experience nila and first grand finals nila,” said OhMyV33NUS after the loss.
“Pero nakita naman siguro nila na kaya nilang makipagsabayan, what more pa kapag dumating sila sa point na ilang beses na silang naka-experience ng ganito kasi meron pang i-improve e. Sobrang laki pa ng pwede nilang i-improve and nakita naman natin yun,” she continued.
Having been in the same position before, OhMyV33NUS wants Yue and Owl to let go of this painful experience, move forward, and focus on their future careers.
(C) MOONTON
“Siguro gusto kong i-take nila ‘tong pagkatalo na ‘to na nakatinigin pa rin sa harap kasi wala e, ganun talaga yung buhay e,” said the three-time MPL PH champion.
“It’s either matalo ka tapos magmukmok ka hanggang sa ‘di ka na makabangon ulit or harapin mo yung pagkatalo mo and galingan mo pa sa susunod na mga tournaments kasi hindi lang naman ito yung huling pagkakataon para ma-showcase nila yung galing na meron sila,” she added.
OhMyV33NUS is confident that both players will emerge from this situation stronger than ever. After all, she knows what it’s like to lose two grand finals and grow as a player because of it.
“Sobrang magiging better sila nang dahil sa mga ganitong losses kasi lahat naman ng mga naging champion or mga naging GOAT or naging pinakamagaling naka-experience rin muna ng mga ganitong situation e,” said OhMyV33NUS.
“Also just imagine, two rookies versus teams na sobrang tatagal na nilang magkakasama. For example lang is yung ONIC, ‘di ba? Since S10 same roster sila, s11 so para sa akin sobrang goods pa rin yung pinakita naming run despite na maraming changes sa lineup namin.”
