IF ONLY Aniel "Master The Basics" Jiandani ignored the Floryn pick in the upper bracket of the M5 World Championship match between Blacklist International and Onic Esports, perhaps a different outcome could emerge.
Instead Master The Basics had to suffer the consequences for his actions, with fans and even coaches, ridiculing his decision. Blacklist managed to keep the tides at bay against their Indonesian counterparts, but a single decision swooped their upper bracket dreams down the drain.
This is a harsh reality that most coaches in Mobile Legends will have to face, something that Coach Kristoffer "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza explained in an exclusive with SPIN.ph.
The struggles of coaching a team
"Ayun yung downside dahil kapag nananalo kayo, never kayong makakakuha ng credit. Kapag talo kayo, ikaw talaga yung sisisihin. Yun yung masakit na katotohanan, which is kailangan natin i-embrace or makasanayan," reflected BON CHAN.
BON CHAN isn't a stranger to this scenario as he was once under the hot seat as Blacklist's head coach. He was the main guy who led the Codebreakers to victories in the M3 World Championship and MPL PH Seasons 7, 8, and 10.
He even led Team Sibol to a gold medal finish during the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Yet he is still human, prone to errors and criticisms from the community. Remember that Hylos pick against BTK in M3? Or how about not banning Yu Zhong during the IESF in Bali, Indonesia back in 2022?
Maybe that random Khufra EXP lane pick back in Season 9 could bring back weird memories.
For the M3 champ coach, it's all a part of the job, and these struggles would test a coach's mental fortitude.
"Nangyayari talaga yung ganun kahit sa akin. Sobrang daming beses na nangyari yung ganun, krini-ticize. It's about kung papaano ka bumawi sa next match mo. Paano mo mapapatunayan na, 'Ok sa isang beses na iyon, sa dami kong ginawang tama, napansin niyo lang yung isang mali ko,"
"And mapatunayan nila na kaya talaga nila na mag-champion yung MSC dati at makabawi sila," he revealed.
This is a cycle that most coaches will have to undergo: a moment of failure, which could twist to a momentous victory.
"After nung laban kahapon (vs. Onic), ang sabi ko sa kanya huwag na muna siya magbasa, iwasan yung mga socmed, syempre ganun din yung na-experience ko," explained BON CHAN to SPIN.ph.
He added: "Sabi ko, 'Once na naipanalo natin yung next match, lahat yun makakalimutan nila yan e. Magiging parang bula na lang yung mga criticism na yan."
From YouTuber to head coach
Before Master The Basics had to endure all the pain and suffering of being a head coach, he was once a simple man who made YouTube videos to players who wish to further hone their skills in MLBB.
But it wasn't just casual players who benefitted from his vids, as BON CHAN saw potential in him. His videos led to his integration to the team during Blacklist's MPL: Invitational run back in 2021.
"Yun yung time na nakitaan ko siya ng potential dahil sa content niya. Noong sinabi ko na, 'What if we try muna natin, i-try natin kumuha ng isa pang assistant coach,' kasi sayang naman nakitaan ko ng talent and doon namin triny sa MPLI bago mag-start yung M3."
This experience was his baptism of blood in the coaching scene, and eventually he had to learn the ropes. M3 was a daunting challenge for him as a newcomer in the scene.
His experience molded his career, leading to his head coach role.
"Sa M3 naka-video call kami. Isa siya sa naging consultant namin and then totally naka-adapt na siya after ng SEA Games, M4, and sa sumunod na season na nag-decide ako nag-rest, ready na siya. Na-adapt na niya yung ginagawa namin."
And since he has been involved with Blacklist, the transition from consultant to head coach was a smooth experience.
"Mukhang hindi naman kasi maganda yung naging transition niya kasi matagal na namin siyang nakasama before siya nag-transition totally as a head coach," said BON CHAN.
Why isn't BON CHAN the head coach?
One of the biggest question marks before the start of Season 12, stem from BON CHAN's role with the team.
During the roster reveal, it was shown that Master The Basics remained as the head coach, while BON CHAN is part of the assistant coaches.
This could be a surprise knowing that BON CHAN has already garnered a plethora of achievements, while MTB came from a grand finals loss during MSC 2023.
That MSC 2023 loss motivated MTB, which BON CHAN acknowledged.
"Bago mag-start yung MPL (S12) tinanong ni Boss Tryke kung go ba ako, syempre go ako. Yun nga lang gustong bumawi nina DEX [STAR] and MTB dahil kinapos sila noong MSC, which is ok naman din sa akin dahil syempre pamilya yung turing namin e," started BON CHAN.
The former Blacklist head coach didn't mind if MTB is currently under the spotlight as he only cared about was the success of the organization.
"Wala akong paki sa appearance. Kung nandun man ako o wala, as long as nandito ako kasama sila. Syempre ibibigay ko yung mako-contribute ko para sa success nila."
But as BON CHAN kept on discussing with SPIN.ph, he revealed that he has a crucial role for the team: developing the 2nd unit which in turn would strengthen the main roster, something that ECHO PH did back in Season 11.
"Yung primary role ko bago mag-start yung tournament is to breed or i-develop the 2nd unit namin sa ganon everytime na magiging kami ang scrim partner, meron silang quality scrim na malalaro," he explained.
He further elaborated: "And ang isa pa ay masasalihan kaming ibang tournament na since hindi available yung first unit, sayang naman kung yung mga pwede naming salihan na tournament ay hindi namin sasalihan."
Yet his services for Blacklist's campaign in major tournaments will forever remain, albeit more on the backend side.
"Then siguro kasama na rin yung pagpre-prepare, sa mga matches namin before mag-start. Parang same lang din, except na hindi ako yung nasa main stage."
Assessing MTB's progress
And with the both them working together for the success of the organization, expect them to provide honest feedback to each other.
BON CHAN has witnessed the growth of Master The Basics from his humble beginnings to his prestigious coaching role.
Looking back, BON CHAN was left with high praises to MTB.
"Siguro I'd give him a maximum of 10, if that was the highest. Meron siyang hindi ko nagagawa dati na naigagawa niya so 10 talaga. More on in-game na iyon e, mga detalye na confidential syempre," assessed BON CHAN.
One thing that made MTB stoodout is his ability to look at the bigger picture which BON CHAN emphasized saying: "When it comes to macro, kay MTB ako."
However this doesn't mean that there are no holes in his system as BON CHAN revealed one important aspect of coaching he needs to work on...drafting.
"Sakto lang sa ngayon (drafting), sakto. Pero syempre ma-i-improve yan."
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