PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – Selangor Red Giants Filipino head coach Michael “Arcadia” Bocado and import John “Innocent” Banal shrugged off talks about a potential Golden Road run this year as the Malaysian champions put focus on fighting for their dear lives in the lower bracket of the M6 World Championships.

While Arcadia admitted that achieving the Golden Road – a feat that has not ever been done yet in the MLBB Esports – was one of the team’s motivations heading into the tournament, the veteran coach stressed that it is now far from their minds, especially with their backs now against the wall.

“Sa totoo lang, before mag-start yung tournament, yun talaga yung parang ultimate goal namin. Gusto namin makuha yung one of the things na hindi pa talaga na-achieve ng lahat,” said Arcadia after the team’s lower bracket sweep of Cambodia’s NIP Flash.

“But now, I think iba na yung mindset namin. Gusto na lang namin bigay yung best namin every single series kasi nasa lower bracket na rin kami,” he added.

The Red Giants came in as one of the favorites in the tournament, having won two MPL Malaysia titles and the Mid-season crown – leaving the M6 Worlds chip as the last title they needed to complete the Golden Road feat.

Throughout history, only two other teams came as close to the Golden Road with Brazil's RRQ Akira, missing out on the M4 crown in 2022 after pacing 7th-8th, and Onic Indonesia after failing to win the M5 crown, losing to Falcons APBren in a heartbreaking seven-game series in the grand finals.

The team, however, showed some chinks to its armor when it lost one round in the swiss stage and then a 0-2 defeat to Fnatic Onic Philippines in the first round of the upper bracket.

The loss sent SRG to the lower bracket where it will be battling for survival to try to reach the grand finals once more.

For Innocent, the focus right now for the team is to give their best every game and just worry about the outcome – and the achievements after.

“Sa amin kasi dahil nasa lower bracket na kami, parang wala nang pressure. Parang all-in na lahat to kasi. Isang mali lang, isang talo. Wala na kaming chance na bumawi pa kaya sinusulit na lang namin lahat ng games,” said the SRG jungler.

“Binibigay na lang namin best namin kasi pag na-pressure kami, panigurado pagsisisihan namin ito sa buong career namin. Kaya all-in lang,” he added.

SRG, though, is facing an uphill climb to the grand finals -- first, facing  Indonesian powerhouse RRQ Hoshi in the next round before taking on either Team Spirit or Falcon Esports should they survive.

“Going to this next match, parang ang mindset lang talaga namin is ma-survive your lower bracket. At pagdating ng Grand Finals, mapanalo ‘man namin yun, bonus na lang yung Golden Road,” he said.