IN A TWIST no one expected, Team SMG has parted ways with their Game Changers roster despite an impressive 2023 season and weeks before the upcoming 2024 Game Changers season.
Team SMG was composed of Indonesians Odella ‘enerii’ Abraham, Ryona ‘tarathiel’ Tan, Singaporean ‘Kohaibi’, and Filipinos Alexandria ‘Alexy’ Francisco, Kelly ‘shirazi’ Jaudian, and Camille ‘Kamiyu’ Enriquez.
The team made the announcement through their social media pages.
“While this is the end of an era for our team, we know that the players will continue to achieve great things in their careers. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Thank you, champions, for the memories. You will always be a part of our team's history.” The post adds.
Team SMG had a record season in 2023, with the team setting a record breaking 33-win streak en route to the 2023 Game Changers Champions in Rio. The team would shock the world, by locking in four duelists in their opening match in Game Changers Champions against Version1.
That pick would go down as one of VALORANT's iconic moments with the girls taking not only the game one win with their absurd picks, but also sending the North Americans and eventual champions down to the lower bracket with an emphatic 2-0 win.
The team would finish the tourney at 4th succumbing to hometown heroes Team Liquid.
What’s next for Team SMG?
During Riot Games Philippines’ Outlaw showmatch, the girls of SMG did share a bit of their future plans for the upcoming competitive season.
The girls bared that enerii, Alexy, shirazi, and Kamiyu will stay together for the upcoming Game Changers season, noting that their bond is what makes them want to retry together.
“It’s the chemistry that we built throughout the year, and what we have it’s like a family,” said Kamiyu after the Outlaw showmatch.
“I think for me, I played with a lot of players in the past and the three players here (shirazi, alexy, and kamiyu), we have a good bond within and outside the game and I never felt more comfortable so like I really appreciate them” Added enerii.
In a post after the announcement, enerii confirmed that the four including Tara will be staying together for the upcoming season.
With the news that VALORANT Esports is encouraging mixed gender teams for the upcoming 2024 Challenger season, is the team willing to try their hands in Challengers?
For Alexy, the answer is no, with the team focusing on finishing an unfinished business in Game Changers.
“I think for this year, we need to focus na mag-champion muna sa Game Changers and after that I think pwede na kami magtry sa Men’s league. Focus muna kami sa goal namin sa Game Changers kasi hindi pa namin nakakamit last year.”
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