Team Heretics paTiTek speaks on fumble against G2: "We were in control of the entire game...until we weren't"

Valorant

2 Jun

Foo Zen-Wen

Patryk “paTiTek” Fabrowski is swiftly gaining recognition as one of the lesser recognized talents in EMEA. Subbing in for the second time for Team Heretics at an international event, he delivers in a big way on the biggest VALORANT stage.

Entering Shanghai off the back of a strong showing domestically in VCT EMEA Stage 1, Team Heretics suffered a massive blow when it was made known that star playmaker Dominykas “MiniBoo” Lukaševičius would not be attending the event. In his stead would be returning sub, paTiTek, who had previously subbed for the team back at VCT Madrid.

Team Heretics may not have won VCT EMEA Stage 1, but they came into Shanghai in strong form, earning themselves a new reputation for defeating all three VCT China representatives in back-to-back-to-back fashion. Today, they hit their first stumble in Shanghai, after losing to G2 Esports after letting slip a commanding lead.

After their series loss, I sat down with paTiTek to get his thoughts on the series, what ultimately went wrong for the EMEA roster at the critical juncture, the effect of coming in as a substitute for Heretics, the value he brings to a team as a player and so much more.

Heretics: 2 Rounds from Glory

“We were in control of the entire game…up until the point we got eco-ed”

When most look back at this series, the defining moment will certainly be the 2nd map of Ascent. After sending G2 packing on Icebox with an incredibly dominant performance, Heretics replicated their first map lead on the second map of Ascent. Up 10-2 from the first half, Heretics claimed the pistol round. For most teams, this would be the death knell. 11-2 up, series point.

Despite that, G2 rallied with a deeper strength than anything we have seen previously from this roster. Round by round, they closed the gap, ultimately closing it out 13-11.

[Interviewer] Despite the series not going the way you guys would have ultimately liked it to, there were moments during the series where Heretics showed incredible dominance. Can you talk me through your thoughts and feelings on how the series went for you?

I mean, we knew that we were going to play Icebox, and we were really confident on it. So, in our heads, it was like, I mean, at least in my head, it was like a 1-0 already. It was just a matter of hitting some heads and pulling some good rotations. On our end, we were in control of the entire game, up until the point where we got eco-ed on Stingers, where they forced when we went B.

And I think from that point on, we kind of struggled to, like, take map control, just do proper executes. There was always a small bit happening where we could have done better, but we didn't, and they capitalized on it. So, they just took advantage of it, basically.

But, yeah, from 11-2, we should have closed that game, like, 100%. Even, like, winning two random rounds would be enough, but we didn't, and they showed, like, great resilience. So yeah, well played to them.

[Interviewer] What exactly played into this, where you said, like, there were these little things that you guys couldn't quite play the rounds the way you wanted to on Ascent? What ultimately led to that?

I think it's just a lack of experience of playing the map. Because us Team Heretics, like, the boys, and even with me, like, they never play the map. Ascent is always a permanent ban. We wanted a surprise factor coming into this best of three, which worked pretty well, until it didn't work. Yeah. So, yeah, it was just those little things on T side, where if you had just, like, more experience playing the map, or, like, you knew better reactions, or you just knew that, like, you don't need to panic, you can just stabilize in certain situations. We lacked that today, and, yeah, that bite us in the ass.

Despite the stunning comeback from G2 on Map 2, Heretics had still scored a map win on Icebox, meaning the series was only just now tied. We still had an entire map to go in the form of Lotus. However, coming off the back of the Ascent loss, Heretics never seemed to quite recover and G2 eventually came away with the series win.

“I think it’s a matter of G2 gaining momentum from that map [Ascent], and us losing the momentum. We just couldn’t get back on track on Lotus. Even after that Benji clutch, like, there was still, like, this uncertainty in each of every one of us while playing Lotus. But honestly, I think we just got shut down, and sometimes things like this happen, it’s just an experience thing, and by losing those games, you gain tremendous experience. And people will know how to react in future games when something like this happens. When this happens the first time, you just got to power through it and not be upset.”

The Stand-In Effect

Those familiar with CS2 and IEM Dallas currently will be well aware of the ‘stand-in’ effect. Coming into a tournament, when running with a substitute as opposed to a full roster, the expectations will always be lower, and as a result, lower pressure for the roster as well.

[Interviewer] As the tournament has gone on, with each subsequent win, has that expectation internally gone up within the team? Where was the initial benchmark set at?

I mean, I don’t know how the other guys feel about it, but my personal benchmark out of this tournament was top 4. Even though I'm a stand-in, I know and I feel like I bring a lot, and honestly, changing one player is not that impactful. I mean, in this case it is, because it's Miniboo. So, I also got to step up and try to represent the level that he's representing.

But I'm not looking at it that way. I'm looking at it in a way that I've been playing with the boys for like, I can maybe say four and a half months of practicing, of playing Kickoff, of playing Masters Madrid, and playing two first stage games.

In an aspect like that, it really doesn't affect, I mean, obviously it affects, but not to the point where when there's a stand-in, it's a completely different team. I feel like we still have good fundamentals going in with me, and it's just a matter of upholding the fundamentals, executing them properly, and having fun and just playing our game.

The Last Hope of EMEA

“obviously I want more. I want to win."

[Interviewer] What do you personally think about Heretic’s run so far at this event? Is there a sense of satisfaction with what you guys have shown so far? Aside from today of course.

I think at this point, I mean, obviously I want more and I want to win, but I'm satisfied to the point where if I go out of the tournament, I'll be like, okay, we came in with no practice, with me as a stand-in. We did a really good run in Shanghai, and yeah, I mean, reaching top 6 with a stand-in, I don't think any team can do that, honestly.

To be honest, after today, we should have been top four and we should have won the game, if I'm being honest. But as I said earlier, games like this happen, and it molds you as a player when you get put down like this, especially in a way like this.

But what matters is how you get up from it. And I'm positive that we're going to get up.

[Interviewer] In terms of consistency, Heretics probably look like the best EMEA team currently in terms of results you’ve gotten both internationally and domestically. What do you think differentiates Heretics from the other rosters?

I think the work ethic and Boo being an IGL, I think he puts a lot of work into what he does and he's really smart about it. Also, like this team is super young and with having Boo as an IGL, he's molding the younger players, which have insane aim and they are just top of the top right now, I would say.

With him being as the IGL, he just, he puts the pieces together, he executes them properly, and then the young guns just come and completely bulldoze everyone. So I would say that like, those are the things, but also one more important thing is that like, everyone in this team wants to win and everyone in this team is super hungry to prove themselves, to just win tournaments, to play good, to just show off that you should like, be aware of them, you know?

EMEA’s most eligible F/A?

Delivering on all fronts, paTiTek has been a bastion for Heretics; and it reflects in the recognition heaped on him from his fellow squad mates and coach. Listening to that, I took an opportunity to ask paTiTek his own opinion on what he thinks he brings to any roster.

[Interviewer] We’ve heard a lot of great things about from your teammates, from Neil, about how much impact you’ve had on this roster. I wanted to ask you personally, what do you think you bring to any roster? What’s your biggest selling point?

“I think it's my confidence plus that I'm a stable player. People know what to expect from me. I would say that also I'm a solid player outside of the game as well. My work ethic and the way I hold myself accountable to being in practice, not being late, putting 100% in practice. Because those things matter. Those things make you a pro player.

How you behave before officials. Because on officials, anything can happen.

Going back to your question as well, what am I bringing to the table? To be honest, I don't know. It's hard for me to say those things about me because when I come to a team, I just want the best out of every situation. I want people that are hardworking around me because I'm also like that. I want people giving 150% in scrims and in officials, not being down after shitty officials.

Just pure work ethic and I would say also skill because I feel like teams are missing out on most of the players like me. If I would have to say. So yeah, that's it.”

Also looking ahead to post-Shanghai, we questioned paTiTek on some of his future plans professionally.

[Interviewer] Post-Shanghai, where do you see yourself? Is there a particular current roster that you would love to work with?

“I'm open to working in any region, honestly, as long as it's VCT because I feel like I've proven myself to play on the big stages and I don't want to go back to Tier 2 because I've spent so much time over there - you would say perfecting my craft and just trying to get to the top.

That at the end it was kind of even annoying where teams from VCT weren't even looking at me to be a potential pickup. But going back to your question, I feel like, I mean, any team, any team from VCT would be amazing. Like, I don't look at particular roster and I'm like, yeah, I want to play with them because if that particular roster would give me a trial and would say that the values I have will bring them victory or like will bring them something more, then I'm down to go there.”

Stay tuned on Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences and more. You can also follow the tournament on Strafe.

Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games

Paper Rex Favorites to Win Shanghai? Head Coach Alecks speaks on outside expectations for the team