DIG Rigby: “I mean, if we can’t go Worlds, [there’s] no point, honestly.”

Q: That series felt tough. What are you feeling right now?

Rigby: I probably have to go back and review a little bit more. I just think back on all the non-progressing feels [and] non-progressing practices that we’ve had. I just feel bad about the times wasted during the whole split. If we used that time more wisely, and if we fixed our problems at those points, today would have been different.

In terms of today, I do think that there are many rooms of improvement. But, at the same time, it was [our] first Bo5, so it was like a new experience for me, too. I think, in general, our team has to just go back, review and break it down so we can be ready for [a] better situation [in] Split 3.

Q: What do you think went wrong for the team?

Rigby: In a team, there’s five players. During the season, we have ups and downs. The people who are playing [well have] to wait for the people [playing poorly] to bounce back, so the team can progress. But that [progress] wasn’t being made.

[There were] times where we were not trying to be mean to each other. There are things that a player could be bad at, [just] as there are things that a player could be good at individually. I you’re a team – you have to own up to the deficits or benefits that your teammates give and … cover up for each other if there are any.

I think, just generally, it took a long time for [our players] to realize, “If someone’s lacking on something, then I have to put extra focus on it. At the same time, I have to focus on not letting it affect my own individual performance.”

I think … that kinda pushed us back [into] not achieving the great result that we could all be satisfied with. But it’s getting closer. The way we treat scrims is [getting] closer to how we treat stage games. Especially in the recent two weeks, I am quite satisfied with how [scrims] went. So Split 3 could start with this environment. I think the team will be in a better position.

Q: You’ve spent some time with the team now. Do you guys do activities outside of the game together, to help build team bonding or better relationships?

Rigby: Isles has a family, so, as soon as the practice [is] done, he has to get the fuck out. And I really do think that time should be for him, but he plays solo queue, gets back home and then does his own stuff.

At least for the past two weeks, I’ve been staying in the office until 2 a.m. We don’t do anything specific in terms of team activity, but we’re staying there until, like, 1 a.m., 2 a.m. I think that’s what required – being in this together, and feeling the necessity of doing this together. Those types of things.

Q: Is everyone just playing solo queue until 1 or 2 a.m.?

Rigby: Playing solo queue, talking about the games, talking about the drafts and what we have to work on individually, looking back at our scrims individually, that type of thing. 

I mean, it was for [the last] two weeks only. It just had to be, for the whole split. Then, there will be [the] necessity of more off days or more team activity things, because we don’t wanna burn out. 

But it worked. And I hope the players know the fact that there is no time to slack, at least [with] Split 3 – it’s deciding Worlds, right? I hope they use this “kinda not-good vacation” until next split starts. 

We’re gonna take some time off, use this time wisely and then be ready to ramp it up for Split 3.

Q: Is Worlds your aim as a team?

Rigby: I mean, if we can’t go Worlds, there’s no point, honestly. If it was three spots, I’d be pretty confident after C9 and FLY. 

We watch our scrims with other LTA teams [and none of them] deserve to be in a great spot. All the practice that other teams are doing doesn’t feel serious. Feels too random. And I think that’s why our region isn’t competitive. 

We kinda felt that out during the split – the need of consistency, seeing how FLY and C9 seem so solid. They just built … individual player level, or they built the team together for a long time. And we kinda felt it by Split 2. 

That is the key factor of success. We have to be consistent. We have to take our practices more seriously.

Q: Are you planning getting back into the swing of things for Split 3 around MSI, when the top teams are here?

Rigby: I’ll be staying, I think. LiRA’s gonna stay, Keine’s gonna stay, too. The rest live in the States, right? I heard Sheiden’s probably staying, too. 

During the break period, we’ll maybe go on a trip or whatever. We’ll use our leisure time, but I think probably we’re all gonna stay. We [still] have to do management meetings, coaching staff meetings, etc. 

We’ll see how it goes from that point. I do think that, with [international] players coming, it’s a great advantage. But I’m not sure with scrims. It’s gonna be Vancouver, and the ping is different, right? So we have to probably figure it out. But at least the solo queue level is gonna be higher.

Q: Can you list your favorite thing about each of your players? Ideally, out of game.

Rigby: Srtty, I like his voice. 

Sheiden, hmm… I just wanna pick something nice, so let me think. Sheiden… I like his confidence. *chuckle* 

Keine, I like his – how do you call it, after losing game, [he’s] upset – passion, I guess? Like, being really concentrated in the game. I love that part of Keine. Honestly, I want a little bit more of it.

Tomo, I like him being brave when making decisions, and when trying to pull the trigger. It has to be balanced from time to time, but having it [and] controlling [it, versus] not having it is a big difference. He has the braveness. 

Isles, I just want that guy to succeed. He has what it takes to succeed. He has the mindset, he has the skills, but he wasn’t used to [success] in his previous experiences. He just didn’t get a shot until now, but I hope this is a year where he can succeed.