Going from player to coach is a natural move in any sport, and Pandora is eyeing that road.
Team Falcons’ Pandora has had quite a full career as an MLBB professional esports player, but now it’s time for him to move to the next phase of his journey.
As Team Falcons is once again representing the Philippines for the upcoming IESF World Esports Championship, Vincent “Pandora” Unigo is joining the SIBOL MLBB men’s national team as an analyst-coach. It’s a dramatic role change for the squad’s forever sixth man, but he’s definitely up to the task.
“Di naman parang bago sa akin na maging analyst sa team,” said Team Falcons’ Pandora to the media. “And magiging valuable experience ito para sa akin kasi ito na yung next level for me. So gagawin ko yung best ko para makatulong ako kay coach [Robert “Trebor” Sanchez]. Titingnan ko yung game hindi lang as a coach but also ibibigay ko yung insights ko as a player.”
According to Pandora, being a sixth man isn’t unlike being an analyst for a team. The big difference is that as a sixth man, you’re expected to be ready to play when the need arises. Becoming the team’s full-time analyst-coach means that Pandora can put his entire focus on helping the team improve. Plus, he’s revealed that he’s previously coached amateur teams, so it’s not like he’s going in blind when it comes to coaching.
“Gusto ko as a coach na mas-nakikinggan yung voice ko. At the same time, pwede ko gamitin itong experience para sa next step ng career ko.”
Team Dynamics and Inspiration
“Sobrang mas-madali yung trabaho ko kasi yung kino-coach ko is yung team ko nung dati,” added Team Falcons’ Pandora. “Parang madali na sila makinig sa mga advice ko. And of course yung respect andun na.”
Indeed, Pandora has quite a head start since he’s working with his former teammates, but that doesn’t mean his job will be easy. The national team also has MPL PH S15 champion Grant “Kelra” Pillas and MPL PH S15 grand finalist Sanford Vinuya. Getting all these players to work together is part of the coaching team’s job and will be critical if we want to take home another IESF gold medal.
“Kailangan maganda yung timpla namin at mag-experiment yung mga players. Baka pa maka-improve yung gameplay namin as a whole.”
As for his own coaching style, Pandora says that he learned how to become an analyst-coach from Vrendon “Vren” Pesebre, AP.Bren’s former coach, who was part of their dominant 2023 run. He also looks up to OG’s Sebastien “Ceb” Debs, the Dota 2 legend who’s been known to motivate and inspire his teammates.
“Vocal talaga ako sa mga thoughts ko and super opinionated person ako,” continued Team Falcons’ Pandora. “Tapos marami din akong ideas sa game. Meron din akong experience as a player and coach sa mga amateur teams. So I think nakakatulong din yon sa pagco-coach ko.”
Banner photo by Ramon Domingo.
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