In search of a fresh start, RSG PH head coach Brian “Panda” Lim has decided to implement a new scheme in the team’s title-retention bid in the MPL Philippines Season 10.
Gone was the idea of a main five for RSG PH as the two-time MPL Philippines champion coach opted to give all his players a chance to compete on the stage. According to Panda, this move will help motivate his players while also erasing the thought of complacency in their minds.
“Starting this season, we decided to tapon the idea of (having) a main five. After we won the MPL and MSC, we decided that… There’s no roster that’s perfect,” said Panda after the team’s 2-1 win against Bren Esports on Saturday.
“So we decided that there’s no more main five, there’s only team A and team B and then we would do switches every week. And then whoever player plays better, will play in the lineup,” he added.
After suffering a 0-2 loss against Omega Esports during their debut, Panda inserted veteran EXP laner Kenneth “Kenji” Villa in RSG PH’s match against RSG PH and got a sweep of their own. The team went on with the same lineup against ONIC PH but once again lost via sweep.
In their fourth game of the tournament against Bren Esports, Nathzz made his way back into the roster along with the debuting Clarense “Kousei” Camilo. However, when the M2 World Champions tied the series, Panda once again switched things up by plugging in Eman “EMANN” Sangco, who delivered big in Game Three which helped RSG PH seal the win.
Panda said that after the team won the 2022 MSC title, he felt that some players took their spots in the starting five for granted.
Now, this is his way of helping the players bring back the same fire that brought them to the top while also providing the reserves their much-deserved chance to showcase their wares. Moreover, he said that he also wants to prevent the players from burning out.
(C) MPL PH
“What I felt po kasi, we tried using the main lineup in the beginning, and we decided, is this playing variations and swaps worth it ba? Kasi the MSC lineup have already proved themselves eh. The players take it for granted that the slot, the main slot, is secured just because they won MSC. And what happens because of that is that they get lazy. In the practices, they get less focused. There should be competitiveness,” Panda bared.
“We have 10 players. If I just focus on the main 5, then paulit-ulit, the players would think that “tomorrow I’ll be playing naman, next time I’ll be playing naman, this week I’ll be playing naman. When will this be over?” They’ll get pagod. Kasi walang competitiveness. And lahat sila bata. They want excitement and spice in their lives,” he continued.
The players, meanwhile, had no qualms about Panda’s decision to constantly rotate the team’s 10-man roster. In fact, EMANN and Kousei said that they were happy with the change simply because all the players will now have the chance to compete.
“Maganda siya kasi lahat kami gusto naming patunayan na gusto naming mag-laro. Na kaya rin naming mag-laro sa MPL,” said EMANN.
“Masaya and exciting kasi lahat nabibigyan ng chance mag-laro saka kailangan mo talagang ipaglaban yung spot mo,” echoed Kousei.
With the new strategy in full effect, Panda hopes that it can translate to victories as they vie for one of the two M4 World Championship slots.
