By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen
After Aurora ended their MPL Philippines Season 14 campaign in second place, falling to Fnatic in a closely contested grand final that went to seven games (3-4) last Sunday, Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse’s quest for a championship title remains unfulfilled.
This loss marks Renejay’s third consecutive finals appearance since Season 11. Although he was part of Blacklist International last season, the 21-year-old roamer did not compete in the local tournament, as he took a break from the professional scene.
In an exclusive interview with Tiebreaker Times, the former Blacklist roamer emphasized that he still has much to learn before he can earn the championship title he has long dreamed of.
“Tingin ko talagang hindi pa talaga para sa akin yung championship at tingin ko may kailangan pa akong i-improve sa laro ko. Lalo na sa decision making kapag mga crucial [moments] na sa laro kumbaga kapag Game 7 ‘tas crucial na gameplay. Yun talaga yung mga kailangan ko pa talagang i-improve sa susunod. Para talaga makuha ko yung gusto kong champion,” Renejay said.
Despite their loss, Renejay expressed a mix of emotions, feeling proud of his team’s performance throughout the season. However, he also felt sadness, believing that the series should have been theirs, but they fell short in the final Game 7.
In a pivotal moment during Game 7, Aurora found themselves marching down the bottom lane with the Lord on their side at the 20-minute and 30-second mark, poised to secure victory.
Yet Fnatic ONIC Philippines showcased remarkable resilience, refusing to let the series—and the title—slip away.
“Sobrang proud ako sa team and sobrang satisfied naman ako sa pinakita namin ngayong season. Pero syempre merong halong lungkot kasi yung Game 7 talagang para sa akin, parang sa amin na talaga, parang sure-win na talaga pero hindi pa talaga sa akin binigay,” Renejay said.
“Doon lang ako nalulungkot pero magaling lang din talaga yung ONIC eh. Kumbaga na-maximize nila yung mga mistakes namin sa huli,” he continued.
Despite being a new team in the league, Renejay expressed gratitude toward his teammates for achieving a level of success that exceeded many expectations.
“Sobrang thankful pa rin ako sa Aurora kasi kahit bagong team pa lang kami, pero nahigitan namin yung expectations ng mga tao,” he concluded.
