Laus Playbook Esports coach Brian "Panda" Lim has nothing but praises for his players who tenaciously overcame a serious problem for a victorious debut in the MPL Philippinse Season 7.
Laus played with only three players at the bootcamp while the other two played from their respective homes in accordance with MPL's health and safety protocols.
Still, the Eagles soared over the adversity and took down Nexlay Esports, 2-1, for a flying start in Moonton's professional league on Saturday, March 20.
"We were playing with just three people against five. It was really a big relief and I'm happy with the result today," Panda told Manila Bulletin in an interview a few hours after LPE's victory.
"It was a big obstacle for us and I'm happy that we overcame it," added the bemedalled Korean coach, who said that it could've been a 2-0 sweep if not for the unforeseen circumstance that happened.
Panda, the head coach of the SEA Games gold winning team Sibol and Season 3 champion ArkAngel, bared that his two players at home were just communicating through Discord.
However, the weak Internet connection made it impossible for them to hear each other.
But his players remained confident as they banked on the solid chemistry they built and eventually carried them to the MPL stage.
"They were like, 'Okay lang kaya pa rin namin durugin sila (It's okay we can still crush them).' They still have that positive mindset. They're very tenacious and just positive," said player-turned-coach.
After thwarting NXP's comeback attempt in Game 2 behind Jay "JAKE THE DOG" Lapitan's Harith and Ian "Beemo" Sergio's Silvanna to tie the series, Joshua "Aspect" Tating's Bruno went ham and even hit a "maniac" kill streak to power LPE's 23-6 romp in the deciding Game 3.
Nowee "Ryota" Macasa's Lapu-Lapu served as the Eagles' main man in the early to mid game even as Arvin "Arvs" Bacayan's mid Silvanna, Beemo's Rafaela and JAKE THE DOG's Claude also stepped up to buy enough time for Aspect to take over in the endgame.
Panda said it will be harder come their matches against Blacklist Interational and Onic PH next weekend as everyone will need to play separately.
But Panda stressed that they will still give their all despite the unfavorable situation and just take it one game at a time.
"We would take things step by step and step. We will just focus on what's in front of us and eventually we'll be at a place where everyone will look up to us."