After getting an early exit at the hands of Aurora Gaming in the play-ins last Season 14, Team Liquid reinforced themselves at the beginning of this year by taking in by Falcons Esports analyst now head coach Rodel ‘Arsy’ Cruz and former Blacklist International superstar and M3 Champion Kiel Calvin ‘Oheb’ Soriano.
Despite the team undergoing game-changing additions, the whole team seemed to have clicked in an instant. Even way back during the offseason, it was evident during their streams and interactions how light the atmosphere was for the whole team. For some, it was a comedic and unserious Team Liquid.
And for Team Liquid, that chemistry turned out to be the palette they needed to paint their own art of winning.
When Oheb joined as their new gold laner, the top seed was something more than he had expected with his new team.
“Hindi ko expected na magiging top 1, pero expected ko na mag-playoffs kami kasi kung titignan mo naman ‘yung kakampi ko, parang ‘di mo makikitang maghahabol ng playoffs ‘yan,” he said.
Playing in a new environment served as a motivation and relief for him.
“Ang babait talaga nila outside the game. Kahit magkamali ka wala sa team ‘yung nag-sisisihan. Sasabihan lang nila, ‘okay lang ‘yan, p’re, reset lang’. Parang kahit anong gawin ko sa game, kahit sobrang tapang or sobrang play safe ko, okay lang sa kanila. Sobrang pinapa-feel talaga nila na maging komportable lang ako,” Oheb added.
For Team Liquid’s roamer Jaypee ‘Jaypee’ dela Cruz, their chemistry outside the game played a huge part in their regular season performance.
“Si Oheb, ‘pag inaya ko siya, go lang din sa mga gustong gawin. Sanford (Sanford Vinuya) and Sanji (Alston Pabico), PC games kami and movie night before laban. Karltzy (Karl Gabriel Nepomuceno), laging nasa PC siya lagi pero pag niyaya namin, go agad siya.
“Tingin ko as a team, nag-sync kami ngayon talaga. Halos lahat kasi ‘pag may nangyayari sa team, pinag-uusapan namin agad. Naging maganda naman po ‘yung run namin this regular season,” Jaypee added.
“Sa ML, hindi kayo mananalo kung may isang parang ‘mahina’ sa laro. Para sa akin, lahat talaga kami nag-step up,“ Oheb said.
Looking up to his role model, South Korean singer and actress IU, Karltzy strived to be just as kind of a leader for his team. Maturing as a player and individual, he believes he became nicer over the years.
“Siguro, mas mabait po ako ngayon. Kasi dati, medyo balagbag talaga ako magsalita,” said Karltzy, also known as “TL dlwlrma”.
For Karltzy, it won’t be possible without the people around him.
“’Yung mga tao sa paligid ko. ‘Yung parents ko, ‘yung girlfriend ko, and lalong lalo na si ate Mitch na lagi akong tinutulungan sa mga interviews, kung paano ako sasagot,” he said.
As for his teammates, they share the same sentiment.
“Bumait siya. Kung ikukumpara mo talaga dati, ‘yung pagiging trash-talker niya, kung ‘yung walang cover cover ‘yung salita niya, kung ano lang ‘yung gusto niyang sabihin. Ngayon, mas nag-mature siya, lalung-lalo na sa media,” Oheb commented.
“Siya rin ‘yung nagle-lead sa amin talaga pag in game na, sa mga shotcalls niya. Talagang nag-mature din talaga siya,” Jaypee added.
Will Team Liquid be able to win it all for The Cavalry? Catch their series today against Team Falcons on MPL PH Season 15 Playoffs.
