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This is the last chance for the aspiring EXP Laner to prove his worth this season.
It’s do or die for Twisted Minds’ Lansu and crew, as the team literally only has one shot left to acquire that all-important playoff spot.
Twisted Minds’ second half of the MPL PH S16 regular season has gone terribly, to put it mildly. They lost four straight matches since week five, and now they’re in a position where their fate is not entirely in their hands. The team has a fateful showdown with TNC as their last and only match for the final week of the regular season. After that, their playoff chances rest on how the other team’s matches go that week.
For EXP Laner Lance “Lansu” Misa, he entered this season with the goal of proving that he deserves to be in the MPL. Now, in the team’s current predicament, he can see only one way for him to achieve his goal.
“Siguro kung hindi kami makapasok sa playoffs parang hindi ko deserve talaga,” said Twisted Minds’ Lansu. “Talagang dodoblehan ko yung effort para makapasok kami. Dun ko pwede sabihin na kaya ko makalaro sa MPL.”
That’s a rather harsh standard for himself, especially when he’s had standout performances throughout the season. He’s been deemed game MVP multiple times and has made it to the MPL Team of the Week twice. One of those was even during a week where Twisted Minds went 0-2. But when asked about this, Lansu only doubled down on his conviction.
“Hindi ako papayag na hindi kami makapasok sa playoffs kasi masasayang yung taon na to.”
Fight Until the Very End
A common criticism of Twisted Minds is that they haven’t really evolved ever since their dominant first half. This has led the team to become predictable, which Lansu agrees with.
“Parang na-check na talaga kami ng mga ibang teams,” said Twisted Minds’ Lansu. “Inabangan nila talaga kami. Siguro kailangan namin magbago ng strengths kasi nababasa na kami.”
Easier said than done, and might also be too little, too late, as they only have one match left. But even though they don’t fully control their playoff fate, they can still control the outcome of their last match.
“Hindi pa tapos yung laban so focused pa rin kami,” said Twisted Minds’ Lansu. “Tama rin naman yung sinabi ni coach [Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza] na hindi namin deserve yung playoffs kung aasa kami sa ibang team. Talagang laban lang para sa pangarap. Ayaw ko bumitaw hanggang hindi pa tapos.”
Banner photo from MPL Philippines.