RSG Slate Philippines head coach Brian “Panda” Lim is tempering expectations on his new-look team, noting that the squad still needs time to blend and find the perfect chemistry.
The defending MSC champions will be without two of their main five that won the regional title last year with both Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto and Arvie “Aqua” Calderon skipping the MPL Philippines Season 11.
John Paul “H2wo” Salonga, who left Nexplay EVOS after five seasons to join RSG, will be taking Demonkite’s role while its reserve midlaner Dexter “Exort” Martinez was elevated to the main five role.
“This season our dynamic of course will change because we have two new players in Exort and H2wo. That doesn’t necessarily make us weak but we still need time to adjust,” said Panda.
Seen to be one of the strong contenders for the title, a lot is actually expected from RSG Slate this season especially that if the Raiders manage to finish within the top two, they would have the chance of defending their MSC crown.
That, however, was the least of Panda’s concern at this point as he is more focused on developing the chemistry with his new quintet. Aside from H2wo and Exort, RSG Slate still has Dylan “Light” Catipon, Nathanael “Nathzz” Crisologo and Eman “Emann” Sangco in the main five.
“Right now I’m not really focused on protecting the crown. I’m focused on how I can have the perfect five players that I need to have the best chemistry together so that we can have a magandang season together,” added the Hall of Legends inductee.
“I just want a good season with no drama, no toxic, everyone doing their best and with their best effort kesa tsamba. Like ‘oy nag-champion tayo, sige MSC’, gusto ko talaga ng magandang story sa chapter na ‘to ng RSG,” he stressed.