[EXCLUSIVE]"We should have won the first series" MIBR bzkA after eliminating Cloud9 from VCT Americas Kickoff

Valorant

26 Feb

Ganesh Jadhav

Last Night, MIBR took on Cloud9 in a best-of-three series for a spot in the VCT Americas Kickoff Play-ins. Against heavily favored opponents, bzkA and his Brazilian trooper rode the momentum to secure a strong 2-0 victory.

After the game, Strafe Esports had a chance to sit down with bzkA to get his thoughts on the game, his team and the Americas League.

The Rematch

MIBR and Cloud9 met for the second time in Kickoff. They first played each other in the opening game. The close game concluded with MIBR ending up in the lower bracket. They took down FURIA to qualify for a rematch against their opening round opponents.

“I think we should have won the first series we played against them”

Congratulations, it was a rematch. The first series was very close as well. What were the talking points after the game? What was the preparation like going into the matchup?

I think we should have won the first series we played against them. We made a lot of mistakes and they were very good at punishing some of our mistakes.

So during this week after the first game, it was a lot of talking about what went wrong, how to fix those little details and also prepare some surprises for them. Showed different compositions on Bind. We showed a different look on Ascent as well.

Also, we were able to surprise them a little bit.

You were in control of Bind despite the early deficit, but then Cloud9 came back and had the momentum in their favor. Then a timeout came and changed it completely. What was talked about during the timeout?

I think on Bind, we were losing 0-4. But the problem wasn't our game plan. The problem wasn't what we were doing.

It was more about how we were acting inside the server. So we were a little slow in some reactions.

The communication wasn't very on point. So it was mainly to give them a call for the next round and also fix some of those communication issues.

Except for a few rounds, Ascent was pretty flawless. Were there any concerns on the map?

We lost some rounds at the beginning that we shouldn't. Again, there were some details, some miscommunication from our side.

And I think that's the main thing. We need to work for tomorrow.But also I think that our comp really surprised them a lot about how to play the match, how to approach the comp.

So they play good, but we also play good.

The Battle for the LAST SPOT

With the win, MIBR secured a play-in stage. To recap, the play-in stage will be single-round robin, so the teams will play two Bo3s with short breaks on a single day. A single team qualifies for the playoffs.

“It's going to be a challenge for every team”

Tomorrow will be a really long day, two best of threes. You’d have to win both of them to secure the playoff spot. Firstly, who do you think would be the other two teams qualifying?

I mean, I have no idea and I don't expect anyone to win.

But, if I could cheer for Sacy and Aspas together, that would be really good because I really like them.

We are friends, but since just one of them can go forward, I just hope the best team wins and we're going to be ready for them.

Following up, do you think there was a need for special preparation for the hectic day?

We do need special preparation, but not just starting from today for tomorrow. Because we were already working during (throughout) the week.

So we changed some of our schedule for scrims this week. We try to simulate some situations and of course, that just preparing is not never going to be the same as actually playing the tournament, but I think that our preparation during this week was also to help us have the energy enough and to be confident enough for tomorrow.

Talking about hectic schedules, VCT 2024 is something similar with a lot of action packed in a shorter time frame. Do you think it might take a toll on the teams? Especially the Kickoff where teams playing today, play again tomorrow.

Yeah, I think it's going to be a challenge for every team. Every team that is going to play tomorrow is also playing today.

So it's gonna be a rush for everyone and I think that the teams that can adapt the most are gonna be better tomorrow because it's going to be about adaptation.

You can’t do a full end stretch, from one day to another against two teams, you know, seven maps against 2 different teams. It's just impossible. So it's gonna be really more about which team can adapt the most.

The New Additions

During the off-season, MIBR added artzin, mazin and Coach fRoD. The new additions have been paying off dividends with MIBR defeating some strong teams.

How is artzin fitting in with the roster? What do you think he brings to the table?

I think his mindset is really strong. So here to find such a young player with such a talent with such a good mindset for the game. And, and about the environment as well - he helps everyone.

He's always having our team feeling good between each other. So I'm really happy that we have him with us and he's so good even on Ascent, he started the game without having much impact. He was 0-8, I think at the same time he was doing his role perfectly.

He was helping the team, he was hyping everyone and on the round next, he was able to bounce back. So he's a great guy. I mean, I'm just really happy.

How was working with Mazin, your new IGL? How was it incorporating him into your team?

I think it's very easy because mazin is someone who works a lot. He's very workaholic and everything, he is a really good leader for the boys.

So we didn't, of course, we had to adapt some stuff from each other to be able to work well together. But at the same time, it was easy.

It wasn't something hard.I think we both have great minds for the game. We both can work very well with the group and we're just doing together with fRoD.

So I think it was easier than expected. Maybe because he's very talented. He's very workaholic and I'm also very proud to have him by my side.

You also have another coaching addition with fRoD coming in. What does he bring to the table?

Yeah, fRoD is a great coach as well. I have been his friend for a long time and he was one of the best Counter-Strike players before he came to VALORANT.

So I do think he has a lot of experience and we were able to mix a lot of some of my ideas with some of his ideas and just work the fundamentals.

There are some macros and just how we should play the map. So I think that we complete each other a lot and he's really helping us during our evolution, in our development.

The Season Ahead

The Kickoff is just the start, MIBR and bzkA have a long (short) season ahead. The team will have to play every team and win as many games as possible to achieve their goal to qualify for Valorant Champions.

“Our main goal is to qualify for the Valorant Champions”

What do you think about the level of competition in the Americas?

I do think that the Americas is the most competitive scene, with most tournaments so far right now. Yeah, it may change depending on how other teams play. But so far, it is Americas.

The most competitive is about how every team can win over every other team, you know. So it's not really about which region has the best team. It's more about how equal everyone is here.

I feel like every game we watch today in Americas, you don't know who's going to win. Everyone thought we were going to lose our maps during this Kickoff and we ended up beating FURIA and also beating Cloud9, qualifying for the play-ins.

So, I think everything is very close to each other.

Is there a team in particular you’d want to face?

There are some teams that I have never had the chance to play in my career, Fnatic, Paper Rex.

So some teams that I have never played in my career, I think that would be some teams that I really want to play against just to have a different feeling and just to surprise them a little bit as well.

Is there a team you think that this team that no one would expect them to win? But they would go a long way?

Ourselves

Now, lastly, what are your expectations from the season? Is there anything special you want from the season?

Our main goal is to qualify for the Valorant Champions. The best way to do that is to get some points by going to Madrid.

So we need to understand every step and what's in our reach. So we're going to do everything we can to go to the playoffs to win the matches tomorrow and also try to qualify for Madrid.

We have some extra points for the champions. So our main focus is going to the champions and doing our best.

Today, MIBR faces Sentinels and G2 Esports in a round-robin VCT Americas Kickoff Play-In stage. You can follow the games on Twitch and YouTube

You can also follow the games on Strafe.

As an additional bonus, you can catch the VOD for the interview on our new YouTube channel.

Feature Image Credits: Photo by Colin Young-Wolff // Riot Games

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