PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA – Selangor head coach Michael “Arcadia” Bocado stated that winning the first-ever Golden Road in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang history is now the least of his concerns as the Red Giants fight for survival in the M6 World Championship knockout stage.
The reigning MPL Malaysia champion was sent to the lower bracket after losing to Filipino bet and title favorites Fnatic ONIC PH in the opening round of the upper bracket quarterfinals last Saturday.
However, Selangor managed to bounce back with a dominant 3-0 victory over Singapore’s NIP Flash at the IOI Grand Exhibition & Convention Center here on Tuesday night to keep its title hopes alive.
Arcadia has guided the team to back-to-back MPL titles in Seasons 13 and 14, as well as a historic championship in the ML:BB Mid-Season Cup at the Esports World Cup.
He admitted that clinching the Golden Road was their main objective heading into the tournament.
But with their backs now against the wall, the Red Giants are keen on putting all their focus on staying alive in the world tilt.
“Sa totoo lang, before mag-start yung tournament, yun talaga yung parang ultimate goal namin. Gusto namin makuha yung one of the things na hindi pa talaga na-achieve ng lahat,” Arcadia told Filipino reporters.
“But now, I think iba na yung mindset namin. Gusto na lang namin bigay yung best namin every single series kasi nasa lower bracket na rin kami. Going to this next match, parang ang mindset lang talaga namin is ma-survive yung lower bracket.”
The former ECHO tactician expressed confidence in his team’s mechanical and macro skills.
However, Arcadia emphasized their current focus is on maintaining discipline as they prepare to face Indonesia’s RRQ Hoshi in the lower bracket semifinals.
“Tingin ko yung kailangan namin improve is ano lang, para sa akin minsan yung disiplina. Kasi naniniwala naman ako sa mechanics ng team eh,” said the MPL PH champion coach.
“I believe itong players na to, siguro one of the best sa respective roles. And when it comes to the macro, confident rin ako sa kanila na kaya nila i-shot call kung ano yung tamang decision at certain points of the game,” he continued.
“Siguro yun lang, yung disiplina, I hope na ma-keep namin yun just like what we did today. So I hope na magtuloy-tuloy rin.”