Smart Omega has parted ways with its longtime Mobile Legends: Bang Bang coach Steven "DaleDalus" Vitug on Tuesday night, February 2.
"We are announcing the departure of Coach Dale as our coach. Although we have to walk a different path, the friendship that we built will never end," the esports organization said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
Daedalus, 24, steered Omega's campaign in the recently concluded M2 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship held in Singapore.
The MPL Philippines Season 6 runner-up swept its matches in the group stage for an upper bracket spot but failed to win a series and even a single game in the playoffs, resulting in a 5th-6th place finish in the 12-team world tournament which was won by fellow Filipino team Bren Esports.
"We express our gratitude and thanks to our coach, Dale "Daledalus" Vitug for all of his efforts in shaping our team to who and what they are today. Being the innovator and the strategist of the team, Coach Dale has been a key essential to bringing the squad closer to the top of the MLBB pro scene," the team added.
"But as they say, everything has an end... Good luck on your future endeavors coach and see you around!"
During DaleDalus' stint, Omega took the silver in the MPL PH Season 6 after surrendering a 4-2 decision to Bren Esports in the grand finals.
Omega once again lost to Bren via a bitter 3-2 reverse sweep in the finals of the P1.5 million-The Nationals Season 2.
DaleDalus began his ML career with Finesse Solid in the MPL Season 2 when he still had now-Bren star Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno as a teammate.
He was then tapped as a coach when Finesse Solid was acquired by Sterling Global Dragons in Season 4. The team finished third during that season but plunged to 5th-6th in the next one.
DaleDalus was also the head coach of the Team Sibol Mobile Legends that won the gold medal against Indonesia in the 2019 SEA Games.
That gold-winning squad was composed of KarlTzy, Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel, CJ "Ribo" Ribo and Allan "Lusty Castromayor of Bren, Kenneth "Kenji" Villa and Jeniel "Haze" Bata-anon of Omega and Jason "Jay" Torculas of Onic PH.