MIBR Aspas on the Esports Nations Cup: “I’m ready for the call. I’m ready to play. If I play, I’m going to win”

aspas reflects on MIBR's loss, the selection of Fracture, the progress the team needs to make, and his desire to represent Brazil

aspas before the game against LEVIATAN. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

“Even losing in an Uno game, I don’t have fun. What is fun is winning”

After falling short in their first attempt to qualify for the VALORANT Champions Tour Americas Masters London, MIBR will now have to fight through the lower bracket in Stage 1. After the loss, Erick "aspas" Santos spoke with Sheep Esports about the team’s performance, their unexpected Fracture pick, and areas where MIBR can improve to reach their full potential. aspas also shared his thoughts on the upcoming meta changes, the possibility of representing Brazil at the Esports Nations Cup, and more topics.

How are you feeling after the game, and what do you think about the team’s performance today?

Erick "aspas" Santos: “I think we are not playing at our best right now. As for how I’m feeling, I’m frustrated. Basically, we were one game away from already qualifying for the Masters, and now we’re going to have to make a lower-bracket run. It happens, but I don’t think we’re playing to our full potential.

Let’s talk about Fracture, a map you had never played in an official match, if I’m not wrong. Was that a decision you made in advance? Was it a secret map or a secret weapon you were saving for a moment like this, maybe to qualify for Masters?

aspas: We already had a good amount of practice on Fracture, so we were basically prepared for any time we had to play it. In the past matches, we always played against teams that both banned Fracture, so we didn’t have to use it. But we were always practicing it and keeping it in shape. Happily, a good thing was the fact that we played exactly the same way we showed in practice.

I want to talk quickly about today’s game. In your opinion, what was the main issue tonight? And was it also the same cause as last week?

aspas: I think we didn’t have the right ideas. We had the perfect read, but we didn’t have the right ideas. On Split, for example, I knew everything that they would do. They basically did the same thing they did last match, but the plans we made around it just weren’t good. We did things we shouldn’t have, and that cost us the map. And then, for us, we didn’t play well either. What happened, happened.

You have been together for a few months now. In your opinion, what do you think is the main strength of the team right now?

aspas: Our main strength, when we are playing the way we should, I think, is proactivity. But that is something that sometimes we don’t do. Sometimes we just freeze on the map and do nothing. But in the moments when we play proactively, I think those are the moments when we play better. Fracture is a good example of it. We were super proactive on the map; we were doing things together, playing together, instead of just not talking and doing things solo. So I think one of our biggest strengths is proactiveness.

On the other hand, what do you think the team still needs to work on to reach an even higher level than MIBR has shown so far?

aspas: I think we need to always play to our maximum potential, not caring about who we are playing against. We need to treat every single match the same. We need to treat every opponent the same. And I think that’s the way we are going to do our best. So we always need to give our all, no matter who we play against or what we play.

MIBR takes the stage for their first playoff match. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

With this meta, where Yoru has disappeared, how do you see the current meta? And if you could add one thing to this meta, what would it be?

aspas: I think for the next meta, the meta with no Neon is going to be a very fun meta. It’s going to be like Phoenix-Jett or Raze-Jett, something they are already playing in Pacific. They are basically playing one meta ahead, with no Neon. I think it’s going to be a really fun meta. I don’t really know what I would add to it, because we are basically not playing it yet here in the playoffs.

We also saw a lot of speculation on X about the Esports Nations Cup. If Brazil were to call you to participate in the Esports Nations Cup, would you accept? And what would it mean to you to represent your country at the event?

aspas: I’m ready. I’m ready for the call. I’m ready to play. If I play, I’m going to play to win. Everything that I do, I do my best, and I always want to win. I’m a very competitive person, so I don’t like to lose. Even losing an Uno game, I don’t have fun. What is fun is winning.

If you had to pick your top five players for Brazil, who would they be? And which country would you like to face with this roster?

aspas: That’s a tough question. I think I’m going to say the names that people are saying. I’m just going to copy them. My mind can’t think properly right now, so I’m going to say the names that I saw. The names that I saw people posting were Sacy (Gustavo Rossi), Less (Felipe de Loyola Basso), lukxo (Lucca Travaioli), Sato (Eduardo Kenzo Nagahama Sato), and spike (Rodrigo Lombardi).

That could be a fire team. And which country would you like to play against?

aspas: I think Korea will be a strong country. They have really good players there.”