THE MPL PH just recently announced a massive change in Season 14 as teams can now trade players across the entire MLBB esports ecosystem during the regular season. In addition, free agents can also join MPL teams during the season, which offers a lot of excitement in the league.
Can you imagine Omega Esports trading Joshua "Ch4knu" Mangilog to C9 in exchange for Michael "MobaZane" Cosgun or how about Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol going back to Onic PH while Duane "Kelra" Pillas will take his talents to Indonesia?
With the limitless possibilities of roster shuffles happening in the entire MLBB esports ecosystem, perhaps we could see Blacklist International and Aurora Esports' exchange players especially since the majority of players from the latter came from the former.
Is Blacklist willing to welcome back their former players? Here's what Julius "Banoobs" Mariano revealed in a press conference.
"For us, me personally, honestly no," he started. Kasi what we start is we've been through the process. We've been hurt, we've been healed, and now we're ready to war."
He further elaborated: "So there's no turning back from this. Laban kami kung laban pero if there's an opportunity na babalik, yung door is not yet closed pero parang ex lang e. Babalikan mo ba?"
Blacklist's new roster features players who aspire to prove their worth as seen from the likes of Michael "MP The King" Endino who last played in the MPL back in Season 9, and Gerald "Dlar" Trinchera who has been desperate to attain consistent playing time.
Now with both players back in the Philippines and with the likes of Salic "Hadji" Imam and Kiel "Oheb" Soriano hoping to prove that they can play their best despite the absence of their former teammates, a lot is at stake for this new iteration of the Codebreakers.
"We have so much stories to tell, so much motivations to feel. Lahat kami may stories, we have OFWs in our team, we're a 10-man roster, so no expectations right? A 10-man roster ang ibig sabihin marami kaming titimplahin."
"We have a lot of redemption stories to tell, we have players na natanggalan ng team, nawalan ng opportunity, nawalan ng career. So masasabi ko, ito na yun," reflected Banoobs.
Banoobs clarifies statements
For each phrase he mentioned, Banoobs highlighted what he wishes to say.
"On the spot kasi ito, noong nagsabi ako ng, 'For us,' bigla akong naisip, 'Sh*t, hindi pala ako part ng dating Blacklist.' So sinabi ko, 'personally na lang.' Kasi this is coming from my personal perspective joining Blacklist noong rebuilding process," he started.
Banoobs entered the Codebreakers in an era when it just recently lost its legendary core of Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna, Danerie James "Wise" Del Rosario, Edward "Edward" Jay Dapadap, Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo, and Renejay "Renejay" Barcarse.
Even coaches Aniel "Master The Basics" Jiandani and Dexter Louise "DEX STAR" Alaba, and manager Elrasec "Rada Scars" Ocampo, have also taken their talents to the Northern Lights.
With the level of casualties, how does Blacklist cope with this?
"Sabi ko what we start, ibig sabihin noon, sabay-sabay kaming nagsimula ulit, sabay-sabay din kaming nasa proseso. Anong nangyari sa proseso na iyon?"
"Nasaktan sila yung mga remaining players, nasaktan. That's being human. Valid kasi yung emotion e, valid naman masaktan diba? And ako noong nag-start ako ng nire-rebuild ko ito, nararamdaman ko yung niraramdaman ng players. Nasaktan sila, nasaktan din ako para sa kanila," reiterated Banoobs.
With these losses, Blacklist needs to learn to move on from the glory days and prepare for the next phase of their journey.
"Kailangan namin mag-move on, kailangan namin gamitin yung hugot and motivation para magkaroon kami ng stronger reason kung bakit kailangan namin magbatak, bakit kailangan namin ng disiplina," said Banoobs.
"And now we're ready to war,' though others will take this into a different perspective, ang ibig kong sabihin doon, kumpleto na kaming sampu. Kompleto kaming sasabak sa gyera na lahat kami may gustong patunayan."
Ayaw ba ni Banoobs pabalikin ang former players?
Banoobs last phrase may have gotten some criticism when he said: '...Yung door is not yet closed pero parang ex lang e. Babalikan mo ba?"
In his latest video, he further explained his thoughts on his statement.
"The door is not yet closed, diba sabi ko?" he said.
Then when it came to the relationship analogy, here's what Banoobs said.
"Nagkahiwalay kayo ng parte, parang ex e. Kailangan mapag-usapan muna kung kaya bang i-workout magkabalikan. Diba?"
"Ngayon kasi nakapag-usap naman e. Ang hindi alam ng tao nakapag-usap na rin, all goods na e. I just feel the urge to communicate para may alam kayo," he said.
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