On the evening of April 25, a clip recording the communication of SBTC Esports (SE) players during the finals against GAM Esports (GAM) was released. These communication clips are often referred to as mic checks. From here, the audience can gain another perspective on what happened during the ban-pick phase, as well as the players’ viewpoints on the match.
Accordingly, before the first game of the VCS Spring 2023 finals, SE players seemed very confident. The team’s ban-pick strategies were discussed thoroughly and Coach Ren allowed the players to choose the champion matchups they felt most confident with. However, as we know, the final result saw SE falling to defeat with a score of 1-3, where in all four games, they did not show any superiority over GAM. If in game 3, Sty1e had not been exploited too much and Kati had a more favorable champion, perhaps the match would have ended sooner.
Notably, in the communication clip, there is a statement from Dia1 suggesting that the GAM players were performing poorly and that his teammates at SE had nothing to worry about. However, this statement from Dia1 became a focal point of attention. While intended as a morale booster, some opinions suggest that Dia1 was a bit too “arrogant.” He could have taken a more positive approach to uplift the team’s spirits.
However, some counter-opinions argue that Dia1 wasn’t overthinking at that moment and simply wanted to lift the team’s spirits. Many even pointed out that after the ban-pick phase of game 2, Palette confidently stated that SE had a chance to win (despite the fact that they completely lost game 2). It shouldn’t be too critical of how the players communicate. Yet, some opinions state that these moments could have been handled more diplomatically to avoid negative feedback impacting Dia1.
Regardless, VCS Spring 2023 has passed, and currently, the audience’s attention is solely on Optimus’s posts, off-field matters, and the upcoming MSI 2023. The SE players will have time to relax after a stressful season to prepare for the upcoming Summer Split. The team itself surely understands what needs to be done to ensure their players are in the best state possible.