LEC - GIANTX (4/10): aiming for true damages in LEC

GIANTX is gearing up for the 2025 LEC season with an almost fully revamped roster, introducing four fresh faces to join their lineup. While the organization has retained the LEC 2024 Rookie of the Year, Adam "Jackies" Jeřábek, who continues to be a cornerstone of the roster, significant changes have been made in the other positions. The team has brought in toplaner Eren "Lot" Yıldız, jungler dynamo Can "Closer" Çelik, and botlane duo Oh “Noah” Hyeon-taek and Yoon "Jun" Se-jun. Even though the actual results don’t show it, they strangely ended last season on a high note, showing a lot of improvement and, most importantly, progress compared to the first two splits of the year. This progress is embodied by the noticeable rise in Jackies' performance on the midlane.

The ambitious journey of GIANTX through the 2025 season is being led by a coach with a clear vision: André "Guilhoto" Guilhoto. After his arrival three months ago, the team worked hard to form a roster that could combine raw talent and aggressive instincts, all while embracing data-driven decisions. We caught up with him to discuss his approach to building the team, the impact of his coaching staff, and his thoughts on the individual players.

One of the most intriguing aspects of GX’s roster construction is the heavy use of data. Guilhoto confirmed that data is crucial in guiding decisions, though not to the extent of taking over the entire process. "The decisions we make are confirmed or backed up by data" he said. While admitting that there is still much to refine in their approach, he believes that using data is one way to reduce bias in player selection. "It’s another source of analysis that helps guide our decisions and allows us to filter players more effectively."

According to the organization’s data-driven scouting model, Lot scored just as impressively as Jackies did back then. The head coach elaborated on the decision: "Lot scored very, very high. Very similar to Jackie's, maybe even higher. And since Jackie's worked out as a franchise player, Lot came with the same belief. When he played in tryouts against Fnatic, G2, and other Worlds teams, he did very well against top laners that are incredibly good. So it just made sense to go for him when all the boxes that GIANTX was looking for in a player at that time were ticked."

When asked about his roster-building philosophy, Guilhoto stressed that, as a coach, his approach should always be adaptable to the needs and goals of the organization. "You can't really have a philosophy on building a roster" he explained. "You should always adapt to the goals of the org". While focusing on an aggressive player profile with a strong instinct for the game, he emphasized that player synergy could be developed over time. "I don’t care about synergy initially; it can be developed. The goal is to find aggressive, adaptable players with a wide champion pool who can contribute both in draft and in-game."

Guilhoto revealed that GX’s overall strategy for the offseason was largely in place when he joined, but the plan was adjusted based on market opportunities. The initial focus was on selecting solo laners, a task completed before his arrival. However, the team adapted quickly after encountering opportunities such as Martin "Yike" Sundelin’s decision to sign with Karmine Corp. "Once Yike went to KC, it became clear that we had to go for Noah and Jun, and that’s what we did" Guilhoto explained. He also noted that despite this shift in direction, the final result was a stronger roster than if they had been able to secure Yike.

When asked about the acquisition of Closer in the jungle, Guilhoto had no doubts. Despite initially looking at other options, Closer emerged as the best choice for his leadership qualities. "We didn’t pick Closer to develop Jackies" he clarified. "We picked him because he’s a great leader. The team needed that." He also highlighted Closer’s performance in his previous roles, stating that the jungler had been "misused" in Karmine Corp but still showed immense potential. Reflecting on the choice between Yike and Closer, he stated, "Looking back, I would always go for Closer. What he brings to the team is invaluable."

One of the standout success stories of the offseason was the acquisition of the highly anticipated botlane duo, Noah and Jun. Guilhoto was confident that this duo would live up to the hype, stating, "I think Noah is one of the top 2 AD carries in the league. I couldn’t be happier with him and Jun." Reflecting on Noah’s previous struggles in Fnatic, he emphasized that the pressure on him was often exaggerated. "Noah was performing incredibly well at Fnatic" he said. "The fact that people focused on one specific element of his career doesn’t seem fair." The less pressured environment at GX, combined with Jun’s familiarity, should help Noah thrive in 2025.

One of the defining characteristics of GX’s roster is the blend of seasoned veterans and young talents. Guilhoto acknowledged that having both rookies and experienced players creates a solid balance. "We need to give time for rookies to develop, but they can’t be treated as rookies forever" he explained. He emphasized that leadership qualities mattered just as much as experience, highlighting Closer as an example: "You can be a leader without being a veteran" he said.

With a coaching staff featuring Guilhoto, team operations Lead Alexandra “Alex” Hehn, assistant coaches Nicolas “Nico” Perez and Emanuel "Emi" Ursachi, and new Performance Coach Théo “Mew” Ponzoni, the team’s goals are clear: to push the boundaries and challenge the top contenders in the LEC. Reflecting on the coaching staff, Guilhoto praised the collaboration and how they’ve been able to maximize the potential of players. "The team has been incredibly easy to work with" he noted. "I’ve seen how Nico and Emi helped Jackies last season. The results speak for themselves and you can expect the same for every player next year."

As the 2025 season approaches, Guilhoto’s confidence in his squad is evident. With a roster built on data, leadership, and raw talent, GIANTX is ready to make its mark on the LEC and show the world what they’re capable of.