RISING STARS are often mentored by veterans who see the potential in their proteges. For Fnatic ONIC Philippines head coach Tony "YnoT" Senedrin, he witnessed Duane “Kelra” Pillas blossom into a refined version of himself over the years.
Out of all the players with talent and passion, what did coach Ynot see in Kelra?
Coach YnoT sees a reflection of his younger days in Kelra, a flawed man with a kind soul.
“Nakikita ko kasi si Kelra na he’s a very sweet boy, to be honest. I mean, marami siyang mga kapalpakan in the past—alam nating lahat yan. But he really just means well," (I see Kelra as a very sweet boy, to be honest. I mean, he has made a lot of mistakes in the past—we all know that. But he really just means well) coach Ynot said.
“I kind of see a bit of myself when I was young. I wasn’t the best person when I was young. Siguro yun ang dahilan kung bakit ako coach. Ang laki din ng impact ni Kelra sa buhay ko,” (Maybe that's the reason why I'm a coach. Kelra has also had a big impact on my life) he expressed, realizing that his calling in life is to be a real-life coach to the youth who are just trying to navigate life.
Kelra has established himself as one of the most formidable gold laners, not only in the Philippines but worldwide. Showcasing his excellent marksmanship, he has earned his accolades through sheer determination.
However, his journey was not a smooth sail, as controversies and lapses in judgment have sometimes overshadowed the good in him.
'I'm the dog, he's the master'
As Coach YnoT spoke warmly, Kelra responded with a warm hug and sincere words.
“I love you,” Kelra said.
Aside from the father-and-son dynamic, Kelra sees his close-knit bond with coach YnoT through a unique lens that many would not expect.
“Ako yung aso, siya yung amo ko,” (I’m the dog, he’s the master) Kelra described.
From the moment destiny intertwined their lives, they did not only become each other’s refuge through ups and downs, but they also opened new chapters in each other’s lives.
“Actually, ito yung pinakamagandang regalo na nabigay sa akin ni Kelra. Pinakilala niya sa akin yung girlfriend ko, yung partner ko, si Dorothy,” (Honestly, this is the best gift Kelra has ever given me—introducing me to my girlfriend, my partner, Dorothy) coach Ynot revealed.
Reaching greater heights in their career after extending the M-Series Grand Finals appearance of the Philippines for the fifth time, coach YnoT commended Fnatic’s dedication to carry on the dynasty.
“I’m proud of my players. At this point, they do understand what is at stake. We can’t let the Filipinos down,” he said during their post-match interview.
“Apart from that, it’s really just the individual dreams that we have. And of course it’s good to know we have each other. But having to represent ONIC and the Philippines in the finals, I'm really psyched to be honest,” he added.
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