From Doubters to Contenders: Renejay Leads Aurora Gaming’s Ascent in MPL Philippines Season 15
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
From Doubters to Contenders: Renejay Leads Aurora Gaming’s Ascent in MPL Philippines Season 15
QUEZON CITY – Since joining MPL Philippines in August 2024, Aurora Gaming steadily climbed the ranks of the country’s highest MLBB stage. But for Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse, the work has only just begun.
Despite a disappointing first-round exit in the M6 World Championship and a lukewarm run in the Snapdragon Pro Series APAC Challenge Finals, the Northern Lights are shining brighter than ever in Season 15.
Aurora currently stands tall with an 8-1 record, fueled by an eight-match win streak — and at the heart of it all is their team captain and roamer, Renejay.
“Hindi pa naman tapos yung pinapakita namin ngayon kasi marami pa kami kailangan i-improve. Dahil natalo kami sa ONIC, hindi pa talaga kami ang pinakamalakas.” (We’re not done showing what we can do because there’s still a lot we need to improve. Since we lost to ONIC, we’re still not the strongest.)
A New Light After a Trial by Fire
Aurora’s debut season was all about finding their footing. Fresh from a preseason run in Kazakhstan, the squad was still identifying their identity.
“Ang mindset lang namin sa Season 14 is malabas muna namin laro namin. Makita namin kung nasa na ba kami. This season, tingin naman namin kaya na namin sumabay dahil ang dami na rin namin napagdaanan tapos kami din lumaban sa grand finals (ng Season 14).” (Our mindset back in Season 14 was just to show our play and see where we stand. This season, we believe we can keep up now because we’ve been through a lot already, and we even fought in the grand finals of Season 14.)
Chemistry Forged Through Repetition
One of the major improvements for Aurora is synergy — particularly among the former Blacklist trio of Renejay, Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap, and Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo.
“Yung synergy naman namin ngayon, mas tumatagal, mas nagiging solid naman. Kasi based lang din naman sa mga practice namin, alam na namin yung galaw ng isa’t isa.” (Our synergy now lasts longer and is getting more solid. Based on our practices, we already know each other’s movements.)
Another standout has been gold laner Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo, who has collected five Game MVPs and two Weekly MVP honors this season.
“Ngayong season, tingin ko nakuha niya na yung tamang timpla sa game. Nandoon na yung angas niya. Alam niya na yung pwede niya gawin.” (This season, I think he’s found the right rhythm in the game. His swagger is there. He knows what he can do now.)
Leading Without Pressure
As the captain of one of the league’s fastest-rising teams, pressure could easily creep in. But Renejay credits his teammates for making leadership feel natural.
“Madali lang naman maging captain sa kanila. Kumbaga, hindi nila pinapahirapan pa yung buhay mo. Alam na nila yung mga trabaho nila tsaka kailangan nila gawin. Hindi na kailangang sitahin pa.” (It’s easy to be a captain to them. They don’t make your life harder. They already know their responsibilities and what they need to do. You don’t even have to call them out anymore.)
While Aurora has handled pressure well during the regular season, he noted a significant difference between scrims and actual tournament games.
“Sa scrim kasi marami unnecessary things na nangyayari. Kapag sa tournament, mas ultra-focus kami. Pag nandun yung pressure kasi parang mas gusto mo ipakita yung best mo.” (In scrims, a lot of unnecessary things happen. During tournaments, we’re ultra-focused. When the pressure is there, it just makes you want to show your best.)
Proving Themselves — Not the Doubters
Aurora faced its fair share of criticism after their international performances. Some critics labeled them “inconsistent,” others counted them out altogether. But for Renejay, it’s not about proving the haters wrong.
“Sa sarili ko lang, yung goal ko talaga is magchampion pero hindi para patunayan sa kanila. Kasi pangit din talaga nung naging performance namin sa mga international. Hindi ko rin naman masisi yung mga bashers or yung mga viewers na inconsistent kami which is totoo naman siya.” (My goal is really to become champion, but not to prove anything to them. Because our international performance was bad. I also can’t blame the bashers or the viewers for calling us inconsistent — because it’s true.)
Now, with key adjustments and renewed confidence, he believes Aurora can take on the world.
“Ngayon confident ako na kaya namin sumabay sa mga international. Mas kaya na namin ngayon na maipakita talaga yung laro namin basta gawin lang namin ang ginagawa namin ngayon sa, kung sakaling umabot kami sa international.” (Now I’m confident we can keep up with international teams. We can really show our game as long as we keep doing what we’re doing now, if ever we make it to the international stage.)
Keeping the Fire Alive During the Break
With the league taking a short mid-season break, rest is on the horizon — but so are new concerns.
“Kami naman po, mayroon kami yung konting pahinga. Kasi, tingin ko, deserve din naman naming. Maganda na rin itong oras para magpahinga na rin kami, tapos panoorin din yung laban ng mga teams sa Snapdragon.” (We’ll have a bit of rest. I think we deserve it. It’s also a good time to rest and watch the Snapdragon matches at home.)
But that downtime also comes with a looming worry.
“Sa totoo lang, doon din po kami natatakot as a team na mawala yung momentum naming. Dahil nga, win streak kami, tuloy-tuloy panalo namin, may chance lang din na ma-stop yung momentum namin.” (Honestly, that’s what we’re afraid of — losing our momentum. Since we’re on a win streak, with continuous victories, there’s still a chance that it gets disrupted.)
Momentum, he admitted, plays a huge part in the mental game of MLBB.
“Kapag nasa momentum kayo, iba rin yung naibibigay niya sa malalakas na team eh. Parang mas gigil kayo kasi lahat ng mga kalaban yung sa inyong nakatingin.” (When you have momentum, it gives something different to strong teams. You feel more aggressive because all the other teams have their eyes on you.)
Eyes on the Prize
With only three weeks left in the regular season, Aurora is focused on finishing strong — particularly securing a Top 2 finish for an upper bracket spot in the playoffs.
“Walang relax muna. Tapos talagang bigay muna lahat kasi sayang talaga kung sakaling sayangin pa namin to. Kasi, matagal namin tong ginusto na mag top 1 or top 2.” (No relaxing for now. We’re giving it our all because it would be a shame if we let this go to waste. We’ve wanted to be top 1 or top 2 for a long time.)
Despite clinching a playoff berth early, the team chose not to celebrate — not yet.
“Hindi namin alam na playoffs secured na kami, pero nung playoffs secured kami, parang hindi naman namin siya na-celebrate.” (We didn’t know we had already secured playoffs, and even when we did, we didn’t really celebrate it.)
For Renejay and Aurora, the job is far from over.
“Goal namin is mag-champion, yung goal talaga namin is mag top 1, top 2, dun lang po talaga kami naka-focus ngayon.” (Our goal is to become champions, and right now we’re really just focused on securing that top 1 or top 2 spot.)
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