Pressure and expectations are once again on the defending MPL Philippines and MSC champions, Team Liquid Philippines (TLPH), as they set their sights on revenge against Team Falcons in the upcoming playoffs.
After a narrow loss to the Falcons in Week 8 that dropped them to third place in the regular season standings, TLPH head coach Rodel “Arsy” Cruz is eager to bring his squad back to form and reclaim their dominance.
“We’re ready to defend our crown,” Arsy said confidently in an exclusive interview. “Pero mahirap talaga ngayon kasi sobrang competitive ng season, lalo na sa meta.”
Adapting to a Tough Meta
Cruz noted that this season’s evolving meta has made it one of the most unpredictable in MPL history.
“Itong season na ‘to, pinakamahirap na meta sa lahat ng season na nakita ko,” he explained. “Hindi siya nag-iistick sa isang playstyle. Umiikot siya depende sa kung ano ang babagay sa team mo. Ang daming pwedeng meta ngayon.”
Given the dynamic environment, he believes that coaching will play an even bigger role in determining playoff success.
“Malaki talaga ang impact ng coaches ngayon—mga 80%,” Arsy emphasized. “Magkamali ka lang ng isang hero, pwede na agad magbago ‘yung takbo ng laro.”
Despite back-to-back titles, the champion coach remains humble, admitting he’s still pushing himself to improve.
“Para sa akin, kulang pa effort ko. Marami pa kong gustong i-improve. Pero ang advantage ko, may team ako na laging nandiyan para sa akin. Collaborative kaming lahat—gumagalaw kami bilang isang team.”
Facing Familiar Rivals
For Arsy, the clash with Team Falcons goes beyond just another playoff matchup—it’s a test of pride and growth.
“Yung Falcons, kryptonite namin ‘yan. Package talaga sila,” he said with a laugh, echoing TLPH star Karl “Karltzy” Nepomuceno’s sentiment.
The series also carries an interesting subplot. Former TLPH coach Moody “Moody” Samal, who led the squad in previous seasons, has since joined Team Falcons as an assistant coach. But Arsy doesn’t see that as a disadvantage.
“Hindi naman kami dehado. Magaling si Coach Moody, matalino siya as a coach. Pero sa experience, doon ako mas lamang,” he said.
Cruz added that their greatest challenge won’t be their opponent—it’s themselves.
“Wala kaming dapat katakutan. Kung meron man, sarili namin ‘yun. Nasa do-or-die kami ngayon, and kailangan naming ma-redeem ‘yung pagkatalo namin sa Falcons.”
Respect and Redemption
Despite the brewing rivalry, Arsy holds nothing but respect for his counterpart.
“Bigyan natin sila ng magandang laban,” he said. “I promise, babawi kami sa pagkatalo namin noong Week 8.”
With confidence, camaraderie, and championship experience on their side, Team Liquid Philippines enters the playoffs with one goal in mind—to defend the throne and reclaim their glory.
