SRG’s Innocent opens on difference on his career in PH vs. MY, going against Pinoy teams
SRG’s Innocent opens on difference on his career in PH vs. MY, going against Pinoy teams
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – It was a wild ride for Selangor Red Giants‘ John Vincent “Innocent” Banal when talking about his Mobile Legends: Bang Bang professional career.
The promising gold laner started his career in TNC Pro Team in MPL Philippines Season 11, starring alongside fellow rookie King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez and holdout Mark Genzon “Kramm” Rusiana. However, their run didn’t meet expectations as they finished dead last among eight teams.
TNC had another cellar-dwelling finish in Season 12, prompting future decisions within the roster, while Innocent found himself playing briefly on loan for Singapore’s Team Flash in ONE Esports MPL Invitational 2023.
It was after his stint in TNC when Innocent bet on himself and tried his luck elsewhere. And getting his service was Selangor Red Giants and Coach Michael Angelo “Arcadia” Bocado, who saw hunger and potential in the gold laner despite doubts from fans and even the Selangor’s management at one point.
“Hindi siya (Innocent) yung basta-basta kinuha ko lang. He is one of those players na tingin ko na kahit hindi maganda yung tryout, naniniwala ako sa potential niya.” [He (Innocent) wasn’t the one I selected for the sake of selection. He is one of the players whom, despite having an uneventful tryout, I believed for his potential,] Arcadia stated on an episode of a podcast from caster and coach Caisam “Wolf” Nopueto.
Innocent introduced himself with a bang, immediately putting himself among the best players in MPL Malaysia, alongside SRG who seemed unable to stop winning, bagging two MPL titles and an MSC trophy.
From being the gold laner from a bottom-table team to the carry of one of the best teams in the world, Innocent proved to everyone that he is a must-watch in competitive MLBB.
Needs veteran insights
Looking on his journey from TNC to SRG, Innocent opened up the improvements and differences he had in his pro career.
“Siguro yung kulang lang sa amin dati is puro rookie kami (The one we seemed lacking the last time, probably is we’re a bunch of rookies,)” Innocent said on an exclusive interview after their 3-0 win against Team Secret in the M6 knockouts lower bracket.
TNC back in Season 11 lacked veteran experience in their lineup, with their most experienced players, Ben “Benthings” Maglaque and Jomarie “Escalera” delos Santos having only two full seasons at the time.
It was only with SRG when he was paired up with more experienced players as former Todak roamer Muhammad Qayyum Ariffin “YumS” Bin Mohd Suhairi and former Team SMG midlaner Hazziq Danish “Stormie” Bin Mohamad Rizwan were acquired alongside him and Kramm.
Innocent opened that the level of competition in the country may give extra pressure to newbies.
“Kapag rookie ka sa Pinas, di ba madami nang mga (players na) may titles, na mga champion? Kaya pag hindi na-handle ng mga kakampi yung pressure, mahihirapan kami maglaro [If you are a rookie in the Philippines, you’ll go against (players who had) titles, who were champions, right? So if your teammates cannot handle the pressure, we will have difficulties playing,” he noted.
No hard feelings
As SRG’s foreign reinforcement, Innocent had his fair share of battles against Filipino teams, from scrimmages to competitive matches, including Smart Omega, Team Liquid PH, and Falcons AP.Bren in both the MSC and the Snapdragon Pro Series.
When asked about being conflicted playing and beating his countrymen while representing a Malaysian organization, Innocent gave a candid answer.
“Hindi naman kasi pare-pareho naman kaming may goals sa buhay, pati mga pangarap na ma-achieve (Actually no because we all have goals in life, and dreams to achieve),” he said.
Contrary to his IGN, Innocent gives a straight, matured reason.
“Ganun talaga yung buhay sa esports, siraan ng pangarap talaga. Kaya kailangan mo ibigay yung best mo kasi pag hindi mo binigay, yung sa’yo yung masasira (It’s just the life in esports, destroying each one’s aspirations. That’s why you need give your best because if you don’t, your dreams will be the one destroyed),” he added.
Innocent’s journey—where dreams are either made into reality or destroyed to bits—is far from over, as his team looks forward to winning even more trophies. And while Innocent has four good seasons of pro MLBB, it is already a great ride, and maybe even the start of a greater roller coaster.
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