MSC match scheduling takes toll on players' mental welfare

MANILA, Philippines — The recently concluded Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) saw many changes to its tournament rules and format.

First, leagues outside the Southeast Asian region were included to further improve and foster a higher level of competition in the game's mid-year tournament. Second, it saw the change from a double-elimination format —  which fans are used to — to a single-elimination style, necessitating a battle for third just for the final placement when usually it will determine who makes it to the grand finals.

In a group interview with other casters, Filipino caster Caisam Yvez "Wolf" Nopueto liked the idea of a single-elimination format to differentiate MSC from the M-Series World Championship. He, however, wasn't keen on the idea of the battle for third just for placement.

"I wish there wouldn't be any battle for third because MSC is like a finish line. If there was any rule like 'three teams will qualify for the next level of tournament' then sure let's go for a battle for third. Let's be honest, the battle for third at this point is quite boring because all eyes are now on the two teams who are meeting in the Grand Finals," Nopueto said.

On the player's side, mental fatigue was the common factor for both Burn X Flash and ECHO, which battled it out for third place late Saturday night.

"We've been at the venue before the call time. It's been a long day for us," said Lee Xin, manager of Cambodia's Burn X Flash.

It was a sentiment echoed by Mitch Liwanag of ECHO Philippines.

"Today was really exhausting but of course we have to continue. Ang ginawa ko kanina as manager, di lang sa pag chicheer-up, kinausap ko sila na. Medyo nagkaroon ng emotional breakdown yung mga players. Naintindihan ko na sad sila kanina pero ayun sabi ko sa kanila kailan natin mag move on. Nagenjoy naman sila sa Burn match. I'm very proud na kahit pagod na at lahat-lahat, nakikita ko na ginagawa nila yung best nila. Nandun lang ako sa likod nila and inaalalayan ko sila," said Liwanag during the day's final interview.

For coaches Mitch "zMitch" Sato of Burn X Flash and Harold "Tictac" Reyes of ECHO Philippines, the third place match-up should’ve been held the next day.

"Yung sa battle for third, nakakapagod talaga, lalo na if galing ka sa pagkatalo. Kagaya nung sa amin [sa Burn], umaga yung laban namin tapos nag hintay kami ng ilang oras a nagpapahinga lang, yung iba nakatulog na nga kasi nakakapagod naman po talaga na maglaro ng complete match tapos malakas pa kalaban. May mental fatigue na rin po sa amin. Tingin ko po dapat pinagbukas para nakareset naman po yung team," said Sato.

For Reyes, the schedule greatly players.

"Yung sa schedule, malaking factor talaga yun. Tulad kanina natalo kami tapos maghihintay kami ng one hour tapos next laban kaagad. Napaka draining niya. Mas maganda one game a day lang. Yung today na last match sana pinagbukas na lang [to give time to the players to recover],” added Reyes.

It is not the first time that match scheduling has been brought forth as something that the Mobile Legends league can improve on.

Issues about player mentality and exhaustion have been raised multiple times when the Lower Bracket Finals and Grand Finals of any season tournaments are scheduled on the same day.

Likewise, BREN Esports coach Francis "Ducky" Glindro during Season 11 of the Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines raised how jam-packed the schedule was for the local league while other leagues had ample time to prepare for other competitions.

"[The league] could have been scheduled better. There's definitely room for improvements like better coordination with teams and MOONTON. Kasi nagawa siya ng Indonesia, what more us? Kasi there were other factors in play like religion. Tayo we had Holy Week in the middle which prolonged the current schedule."

At the end of the day though, Liwanag believes that whatever format or schedule the league wishes to use, teams have to be prepared.

"Kami, as a team, kailangan maging mas ready pa. We learned from this. May mga bagay na kailangan pa namin ayusin. Nag-usap usap rin kami kanina as we were preparing for the next match and sabi ko nga sa players we learn and we move forward and babawi kami sa next tournament," said Liwanag.