TWISTED Minds’ long-anticipated duel with the M6 champions ONIC Philippines took an unexpected turn when star jungler Michael “MP the King” Endino fell ill and needed medical attention, but in his absence, a man did not hesitate to answer the call of his duty.
The return of Stephen “Sensu1” Castillo from the sidelines was nothing short of iconic, as he slipped seamlessly into the main lineup and played like he had never left. Sensu1 reminded everyone that greatness is not defined by time away from the stage but by what you deliver when it matters most.
In a Facebook post from Coach Kristoffer “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza, MP the King was seen unwell and receiving medical attention, which prompted Twisted Minds to make a sudden adjustment just a few hours before the match.
“Noong nandoon na kami sa holding area, doon na-check ng mga safety officers yung condition ni MP dahil nakaramdam siya ng hindi maganda, so sabi namin na wag na niyang pilitin. Siya, gusto pa niya talaga. Sabi ko kung ipipilit pa niya iyan, baka mas mapasama pa," Coach Bon Chan revealed, placing his player’s health above competition.
The star matchup of the week unfolded in the most unexpected way possible, and it was Twisted Minds who found themselves dealing with a curveball.
Thankfully for them, their sixth man was more than up to the task.
“Nung nalaman namin na hindi makakalaro si MP, sabi ko, ‘Sige, ikaw Sensu1 muna maglaro and yung mga prinepare natin na draft magiging freestyle.’ Ang kinaganda nun, kahit ako hindi ko alam kung saan tayo mauuwing draft, ano pa kaya yung kalaban? G naman silang lahat. Sobrang nag-step up din talaga si Sensu1,” Bon Chan said.
Twisted Minds may have dropped Game 1 against ONIC PH, but Sensu1’s steady presence in the jungle became the team’s saving grace.
By Game 2, his Akai slowed down ONIC’s trademark aggressive tempo, allowing Twisted Minds to tie the series. Then came the decisive Game 3, where Sensu1, playing Akai once again, stole the show.
Sensu1 may have rarely taken the spotlight in the MPL, but behind the scenes he continued to sharpen his skills, showing that a sixth man’s role is no reason to slack.
“Kahit 6th man po ako parang nandoon pa rin po yung init ko sa laro, parang hindi po ako nag stop maglaro, nanonood pa rin po ako ng mga scrims, tapos buong araw po kami naglalaro ng RG, kaya ko pa rin sumabay,” Sensu1 explained, treating his mind and skills like a knife that must be constantly sharpened or else they will turn dull.
Sensu1’s return doubled as a lesson in defying the assassin META, showcasing that while his signature tank junglers may appear outdated, they remain undeniably effective when played with such mastery.
In the heart-stopping Game 3, Sensu1’s mastery on Akai was on full display, flawlessly executing retribution plays to capture three turtles and three lord objectives against ONIC PH.
Coach Bon Chan first introduced the iconic UBE (Ultimate Bonding Experience) strategy with Blacklist International in Season 7. Sensui later carried that legacy forward as the new-generation jungler of the Tier-One-backed squad after Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario stepped away from the pro scene after Season 11.
“Buti na lang sa sobrang tagal na namin magkasama ni Sensu1 talagang hindi pa din nawala sa kaniya yung gameplay namin kapag utility kami and even yung sa draft, yung combination din hindi talaga nawala. Siguro dahil sa tagal namin hinawakan yung ganoong strat, hindi pa din talaga nawala sa amin, nandoon pa din sa memorya,” Bon Chan expressed.
With his stellar performance, will Sensu1 see more action in the MPL stage in Twisted Minds’ upcoming matches, or will MP the King finally get back in his best condition and return?
Either way, Twisted Minds can count on two junglers with unique strengths, both proven leaders in their own right.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
