FROM M3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP run to MDL demotion, and now a career as a content creator for EVOS, Gerald "Dlarskie" Trinchera has experienced a lot of changes in his journey.
And looking back at what he experienced in Indonesia, Dlar learned a lot from his first stint playing overseas.
Unlike his other former teammates, Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol, Allen Jedric "Baloyskie" Baloy, and Mark "Markyyyyy" Capacio, Dlar was relegated to Indonesia's MDL.
That moment brought a lot of learnings for the EXP laner, where he realized the importance of communication.
"Sa ngayon hindi ko pa naipapakita yung potential ko kase hindi pa ako nakakapaglaro. Ano pa e, nag-aaral pa ako ng Bahasa," he said to the media in a press conference.
"Yung unang-una siguro yung communication kasi mahirap talaga yung communication nila e. Tapos nahirapan din ako mag-adjust kasi kadalasan yung iba kong ka-team, hindi sila nakakaintindi ng English... kaya kailangan ko talagang maging pulido magsalita ng Bahasa."
It was a struggle for Dlar who also revealed that that he trained nonstop even as he was self-studying the language.
"Yung pag-aaral ko ng Bahasa, wala naman akong teacher e. Kumbaga, self study talaga ako e. Nino-note ko yung palagi kong naririnig tapos tina-translate ko siya sa Google. Minsan nagtatanong din ako sa teammates ko tsaka minsan rin nakikipag-usap ako sa mga teammates ko na hindi nakakaintindi ng English, or kaya pure sila magsalita ng Bahasa."
There was also a marked difference in terms of training regimen in Indonesia and the Philippines, with the latter having a more relaxed environment compared to the former's exhausting grind.
"Yung pinakana-miss ko sa Pilipinas yung mindset nila sa pagpra-practice e," reflected the former Onic PH stalwart. "Iba yung sa mindset sa pagpra-practice dito sa Indonesia. Dito kailangan talagang buhos lahat, kailangan wala kang sasayangin na oras. Sa Pinas naman kasi, pagnagpa-practice sila, okay lang sa kanila matalo. Dito sobrang competitive."
Dlar wants to return to M-series
Despite the struggles, Dlar is thankful for the positives from his experience, including the hospitality of the Indonesian community and the bonds he had with his former teammates.
"Yung mga tao dito sa Indonesia, hospitable naman sila tsaka maganda rin yung pakikisama nila. Tapos nakakasama ko rin naman sina Coach Yeb kaya hindi ako naho-homesick. Yung mga iba kong kasama, katulad ni Kairi may kasama siya, si Coach Yeb, tapos naman si Baloyskie kasama niya si Hadess. Kung baga kami lang solo ni Markyyyyyy," he said.
When asked about his future plans, Dlar was determined to make a comeback for the M-series. He may not be able to do it now given his content creator role, but perhaps we could see him in Season 12, or if he goes to another region like Cambodia.
"Nagpa-practice pa rin, tapos trial pa rin kung makakapaglaro sa MPL o kaya MDL, o kaya minsan napapaisip ako kung magta-talent na muna ako or kaya magiging streamer muna ako kase yung pinaka-goal ko talaga this year yung ano e, yung M-series e.
"Gusto kong bumalik sa M-series," Dlar emphasized.