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Aurora are cool, calm, and collected despite all the expectations on them.
Despite their intense first match for the MPL PH S16 playoffs, Aurora’s coach MtB and team were calm, composed and focused on the task at hand.
Aurora Gaming is coming in hot this playoffs due to all the pressure and expectations placed on them. After all, entering the playoffs with a 13-match win streak is going to attract a lot of attention. But coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani had already found the proper way of dealing with other people’s lofty expectations.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi magiging pressure yung win streak kasi never namin na-expect na magwi-win streak kami,” said Aurora’s coach MtB. “Never namin iniisip na win streak kami, so iniisip namin is panatay-pantay lahat, back to zero. Walang win streak pagdating sa playoffs. So dahil back to zero lahat, pantay-pantay lahat, ang mindset lang namin is ilabas yung hinanda namin for playoffs.”
Coach MtB adds that this mentality doesn’t just extend to him and the players. The whole of Aurora has bought into it, otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to maintain it for this long.
“Nasa top-of-mind ito talaga, from players to coaches to management. Iisa lang talaga yung goal namin, iisa yung ways namin para maabot yon. Iisang mindset yung team.”
A Tough Battle Awaits
That being said, Aurora were pushed hard in their fight against TNC in the upper bracket semifinals. The series went the full five games and there was a real chance that they would have lost their win streak and suffered their second match loss of the season.
And it’s not going to get easier for them as they now face Team Liquid in the upper bracket finals. Team Liquid look like a different beast in the playoffs and they seem hellbent on defending their MPl PH throne.
However, coach MtB looked unperturbed at the challenge that looms before them. He just continued to calmly explain what the team’s next steps are, exemplifying the composure that he and his team have shown this playoffs.
“I think number one is aalamin namin yung naging strength ng Team Liquid ngayong playoffs,” said coach MtB. “Aalamin namin yung kakaiba na ginawa nila ngayon compared to the regular season. Ia-adjust din yung galaw namin and anomang errors na ginawa namin sa game ngayon. Doon kami mag-hahanap ng pwede i-improve para mas-maging maganda yung laban namin bukas.”
Banner photo from MOONTON Games.