Nexplay EVOS head coach John Michael “Zico” Dizon revealed that it took some time for his squad to move on from the default loss against ECHO which resulted to the team’s four-game slide.
NXPE lost by default in Week 4 after failing to arrive on time for their 7 p.m. match. Since then, the last season fourth placers lost three straight games against RSG Philippines, Onic Philippines and TNC Pro Team ML before rediscovering its winning form in the 2-0 sweep of Bren Esports on Sunday.
“After nung default namin nakatatlo kaming talo so nag usap usap kaming lahat. May mga players na inisip pa rin nila yung talo sa ECHO kasi sobrang naghanda kami dun tapos natalo kami ng walang laban,” said Zico moments after his wards arrested the skid while also boosting their playoff bid after the win.
“Dala nila yun hanggang sa mga naging next na laban naming kaya feel ko kaya nagtuluy-tuloy rin yung talo naming kasi hindi pa clear yung mind nila dahil dun sa nangyari,” he added.
Trying to avert a possible season collapse, Zico shuffled his roster in order to find the right combination that will deliver the squad’s fifth win.
He found that in Renejay “Renejay” Barcase's and John Paul H2wo Salonga’s return to the main five, joining Raniel “Ureshii” Lagronio, Mariusz “Donut” Tan and veteran Jeniel “Yellyhaze” Bata-anon.
“Si Cadenza, sa MPL, sa scrims, medyo poor yung performance niya talaga kaya nagdecide ako naipasok si Renejay since shotcaller sya tsaka si Ureshi din,” the young coach explained.
Also returning to peak form is H2wo who put up a solid display on the jungler Paquito in the two-game sweep. It can be recalled that the star jungler was the subject of criticism during the NXPE slump which has affected his confidence.
“Kinausap ko sya sabi ko magtiwala ka lang sa sarili mo kasi kung gaano ako nagtitiwala sayo dapat ganun ka rin sa sarili mo,” said Zico.
“Okay rin na nagpahinga siya eh, siguro hinanap nya rin yung sarili niya. Goods para sa amin na bumalik yung confidence niya, parang ngayon wala na siyang pakialam sa mga nambabash sa kanya, mas gigil siya kasi nakapag pahinga siya,” RENEJAY echoed.