RSG PHILIPPINES' debut back in MPL PH Season 8 was full of promise as they surprised the community with their prowess. Who would've thought that a team consisting of players from the amateur scene would immediately make a statement and proceed to the playoffs?
And even as the years went by, RSG managed to consistently make it to the playoffs despite the heavy resistance from their foes as well as some roster shuffles.
But unfortunately their playoff streak ends and for the first time in the club's history, RSG PH will no longer proceed to the next stage.
The regular season saw the team in a massive hurdle especially since they lost a key member in Nathanael "Nathzz" Estrologo, who took his talents to North America's Cloud9.
Given what has transpired, how did Coach Brian "Panda" Lim feel? According to him: "Wala akong regrets this season kaya hindi ako malungkot."
A broken puzzle
Coach Panda tried everything to keep the ship afloat and there was a time that his team was in the run for the playoffs.
But things changed when Blacklist International started securing key victories over them, and the defending World Champions Falcons AP.Bren, while the Raiders ended up on a losing slump, ultimately sealing their fate.
No matter how RSG valiantly fought, the results would speak for itself.
"This was the first season ever na yung mga puzzles, kahit no matter how much I try to force to make it fit, ayaw talaga mag-fit. Parang hindi bagay yung personality or maturity or mentality or yung character itself, parang may mga things na sobrang opposite," he reflected.
"Kaya no matter how much effort na we try to put sa practice, sa time, sa bonding, sa communication, lahat, ayaw pa rin. At the same time may issue na kapag sa tournament, iba yung laro nila dahil sa pressure or dahil sa communication."
With things spiraling out of control, Coach Panda had this to say.
"Ang dami talagang nangyari and I really feel na deserve namin na we didn't make it to the playoffs because mas better na ganito yung performance tapos reset agad, imbes na make it to the playoffs tapos laglag na kaagad because alam na alam ko na hindi kami ready talaga this season."
This was definitely a realization that was a tough pill to swallow especially with Coach Panda having a set of expectations for his team. This is the third time that Panda will miss the playoffs which last happened back in Season 7 with Laus Playbook Esports.
"Sa totoo lang dito sa RSG, never ko talagang ma-expect na habang ako yung coach dito sa RSG na RSG will laglag in the playoffs and that is because I always felt that I have the capability, that I can pick the right players, and I have the discipline, and also the hard effort, plus the skills to train the players into championship calibre."
"But siguro this is the first time na I really tried so hard but the team doesn't move the way I want. Parang stomp talaga," RSG's head coach looked back.
A painful lesson
With RSG out of the playoffs for the first time in the playoffs comes a plethora of reflections that the team garnered. After years of consistently making it into the playoffs, Coach Panda discovered how overwhelming things are especially when things don't go according to plan.
"The most valuable lesson I've learned this season is that there is a limit to what a coach can do. Alam ko naman that many people (as always) will bash the coach, for the draft, for the team's performance at the end, and I take responsibility for that talaga," narrated the two time MPL champ.
"But I can say proudly that I really did my best this season, but even though I did my best, usually the performance should come out well."
Like Sisyphus, Panda had to endure the never ending grind of life, but unlike his Greek Mythology counterpart, he couldn't find a way to move the boulder.
"But what I learned this season is that there is a real limit to how much I can influence the team. This season really felt like I just tried to move a very big boulder, na mabigat. Me and coach we tried to move the boulder so hard, but it won't budge. We tried to find ano bang mga methods or creative ways to move the boulder, but ayaw pa rin mag-budge."
"Sometimes if the players won't budge or if the team won't budge, then the influence of the coach isn't really that influential. That's what I've learned this season."
But he wasn't alone when it came to the realizations this season as John "Irrad" Tuazon also learned a lot of valuable insights.
"Mataas lang yung tingin ko sa sarili ko, hanggang sa hindi ko napapansin na mas may mga players na nagpa-praktis para mas lalong lumakas sila and yung naging resulta is parang ang taas nang tingin ko sa sarili ko pero hindi ko na-realize sa huli na ako na pala yung nasa pinakababa," reflected the RSG jungler.
He further added: "So kailangan kong higitan yung ginagawa ko dati....Kailangan ko na lang na maging mas mature pa para hindi ako mas komportable. Kailangan ko pang i-pressure yung sarili ko para habang tumatagal mas nagiging ok yung ginagawa ko."
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