Although it’s known that the “first time” always comes with many challenges, even the die-hard fans of SBTC might not have anticipated that their Esports team would face so many obstacles right now. Not only is there the risk of losing the playoff spot in the VCS Spring 2021 due to inconsistent performance, but SE is also facing relatively serious internal issues.
For this reason, during a recent stream, coach Violet hinted that SBTC Esports might not be able to continue. Specifically, “Teacher Quyen” stated that if SE secures a playoff spot or finds a sponsor, then Teacher Ba – the founder of the team, would have the motivation to maintain the slot for the Summer VCS.
This means that if things go beyond their control, for example, if SE fails to qualify for the playoffs, the risk of this team dissolving or completely changing the entire lineup could very well happen.
In light of this information, many fans have expressed their concern about the future of SBTC Esports. In fact, many fans have sent heartfelt letters to Zakat – Ba Tu and Teacher Ba, who are directly in charge of the team, to question this issue. They also sent encouraging words and hopes to continue seeing the Tam Ke logo appear in next season’s VCS.
In response to the fans’ sentiments, Ba Tu spoke out to clarify the rumors regarding SBTC Esports’ dissolution. He stated that he had recognized that the first season would have many issues, so the results were not what mattered. The dissolution of the team would not happen because he and Teacher Ba are still very passionate about “doing Esports” and will do everything possible to maintain the team.
It is understandable that Ba Tu cannot be 100% certain about whether SBTC Esports will continue to be present in the VCS next season, as this depends on many external factors, especially financial issues.
Maintaining an Esports team is not an easy task, and as we know, even with top stars, each member of SE has to rely on fixed streaming jobs for additional income. If SE can achieve a decent performance, at least getting into the top 4, then the financial burden can be alleviated, as they would have more opportunities to attract sponsors.
One of the first moves that show the determination of the team’s leadership to revive SE is the welcoming of former coach Tinikun. It is unclear what position he will hold in SE’s coaching staff, but the presence of this former captain will definitely help address internal concerns within SE, a team with too many strong personalities.
If they can improve their performance with the current roster, it would surely be the best scenario for SBTC Esports, as they have many top players on the team. However, in a more challenging situation, it is likely that a few names will have to say goodbye to SE after this season to aid in their restructuring efforts if they hope to have a long-term future in the VCS.