Image: MOONTON Games
In an exclusive interview with GosuGamers, Selangor Red Giants' OzoraVeki talked about his team's run in the M6 World Championship and what's next for them.
Selangor Red Giants’ (SRG) campaign to become the first team to complete the golden road in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), ended in disappointment after their loss against 
Team Liquid ID in the lower bracket finals of the M6 World Championship. But despite falling short of the championship, SRG's performance in the tournament itself was still worthy of praise, as the team went on a veritable rollercoaster en route to a commendable third place finish.
After their unfortunate loss against Team Liquid ID, GosuGamers sat down with SRG analyst 
Kok Sing “OzoraVeki” Poon to discuss the team's performance in the M6 World Championship and what the future has in store for them.
A golden road left unfinished
There were only two obstacles left in SRG's golden road run when they reached the lower bracket finals. But even before the actual end, there was a moment when everyone thought it was over for SRG before a Giant’s Spear by 
Vincent “Innocent” Banal saved them from losing, not once, but twice in the tournament.
Signs that SRG would fall short of the ultimate goal were already apparent by then, from their lack of consistency, wavering discipline, and tendency to throw away net worth leads. When asked to reflect on his team's journey, OzoraVeki opted to not judge his team's performance and instead appreciate it for what it was: a magical run that almost felt like a movie for him.
From almost not qualifying to the Knockout Stage against 
CFU Gaming, dropping to the lower bracket, dismantling 
Team Spirit in the lower bracket semifinals, and ultimately falling to Team Liquid ID – everything was a rollercoaster of emotions.
“I think instead of judging the performance, the whole run itself was like a movie for me. We could have been out of the Knockout Stage, if not for a super play from Innocent. That was the moment that made me feel like this run was so magical because it was something that wouldn’t happen again for a short while. Going on the [final] day, it was unfortunate that we came from 3-0 momentum from Spirit; we believe we could have brought a better performance in the lower bracket finals. We felt so much regret, knowing this was the once-in-a-lifetime golden road. It's an opportunity that is really hard to achieve again, and we must go out this way. I felt really sad.”
Having been the biggest favourites to take the trophy heading into M6, SRG's loss to Team Liquid ID in the lower bracket finals stung. Not only did they lose, but they got swept 3-0 by their Indonesia opponents. It was almost like SRG didn’t have an answer to Dolly “SaintDeLucaz” Pelo’s boys in blue – something almost unthinkable before M6.
We asked OzoraVeki what made it difficult for SRG to defeat Team Liquid ID, and he wasn't shy about admitting his team's shortcomings and praising their opponents for their preparation.
“In my opinion, I felt like their preparation was good because how they play made our playstyle hard (to execute), and they did that throughout the three games. I’m not sure if they prepared it perfectly for us or if it was because we came from the lower bracket and there were a lot of games to study. All the strategies that they prepared for us were really good.”
While dwelling on the past would not make time flow in reverse, it is important to learn from it and not make the same mistakes. Now, OzoraVeki and SRG look towards the future. SRG's analyst was confident that the team will stay together – but it's worth remembering that anything can happen in the off-season, especially after TNC Pro Team and Blacklist International have already kicked off the roster shuffle.
“I think the roster will likely be the same, but anything can happen in the off-season, so let’s see.”
With the 2024 calendar over for MLBB esports, SRG’s push for the golden road will still be etched in the annals of the game's greatest moments – until someone actually completes this incredible feat that so many others have failed to achieve.
