Midway into their talks with Nexplay EVOS, Minana Esports – despite no assurance that they will make it to the big league – made the decision to give their players a three-month break to prepare them for what’s about to come in the MPL Philippines.
By January, it was finally confirmed that Minana Esports – the team that won 11 consecutive and 19 total championships in the amateurs – will represent the Nexplay Esports franchise in Season 11.
“After winning nung two amateur leagues namin na malalaki, nag-take break kami ng October. Nung November napagusapan na namin ng management and also the team na mag-take break ang buong team just to prepare mentally and emotionally,” said head coach Joshua “Joshy” Alfaro.
“Pero nung January lang kasi kami na-update [na makakapasok kami sa MPL]. May idea na kami na pero na-update na locked in na so doon bumalik yung gigil ng mga bata, after ng M4 kasi ayaw naming mag-assume,” he added.
That break definitely paid dividends for the up-and-coming squad as they entered the MPL Philippines with a bang, sweeping TNC, 2-0, to score their first win on the professional stage.
(C) MPL PH
Minana Esports founder Julius ‘Banoobs” Mariano said that they decided to let the players take a break from the competitive scene to prepare them mentally, emotionally, and physically for the upcoming grind.
He also said that taking a three-month break was very vital to the MPL newcomers simply because of the harsh realities that professional players face once they step onto the big stage and compete.
“Actually it’s 11 consecutive wins and a total of 19 championships. We did a break starting November na hindi kami nag-compete sa any amateur scenes. We wanted to focus on the holistic development of the players going into the pro scene. We all know social media is sometimes dark,” said Banoobs, a well-known figure in the Philippine esports scene.
“Napaka importante kasi na ma-prepare namin sila with the mental fortitude to the pro scene na kaunting mali mo lang grabe na yung bash ng mga tao without considering any feelings,” he added.
