Matthew "Cryocells" Panganiban provides a balanced evaluation of his personal performance and that of his team, 100 Thieves, after the loss against LEVIATAN 2-1 in their latest match of the
VALORANT Champions (VCT) Tour Americas Play in. He explains where the match slipped, citing miscommunication and thriftiness, and highlights Drew
"Kess" Lee's swift assimilation into the lineup, characterised by strong mechanics and sharp micro-decision making. Building on the momentum of dominant victories against KRÜ Esports and NRG, Cryocells describes how the team has developed a cohesive identity centred on group fighting, information control and positive, process-driven training, with the aim of converting belief into consistency in the playoffs.
How do you feel about your performance and the team’s performance tonight?
Matthew "Cryocells" Panganiban: "As a team, it definitely wasn’t our best. Individually, I think I played pretty well, even if the overall outcome wasn’t what we wanted. It’s frustrating, but that’s the honest take. Haven was our map pick, so we were comfortable there. They strung together a few “hero rounds” and built a lot of momentum in the first half to reach 9–3. We knew if we stuck to our plan and, of course, won pistols and bonus, we’d be fine. At halftime, the message was simple: take it round by round, trust our protocols, and play our game on our comfort pick.
Kess joined the active roster just before the stage began. How has he fit into the team in practice, and what have you noticed since he arrived?
Cryocells: Kess is a really hard-working guy, exactly what we were looking for: strong work ethic, good attitude. He’s soaking up information, adapting to how we communicate, and learning a new role at the same time, which isn’t easy. I want to shout him out, he’s been doing really well this stage, and he’s fun to play with. His decision-making and instincts in micro situations 3v3s, 2v2s, those tight rounds are very good, and his mechanics are obviously strong. Pair those together and you’ve got a great foundation. Now it’s about mastering the new role and settling into a new environment.
You’ve played with Kelden "Boostio" Pupello, and now with Kess. How would you compare their playstyles and roles on the team?
Cryocells: Boostio was our IGL, so when he left we brought in Zander (Alexander Dituri) to lead. Boostio had a more aggressive, “run-it-down” style that we could all play off. Kess doesn’t “run it down” like that; he’s different, and that’s fine. That’s the main comparison I’d make between the two.
How did the team adapt strategy and communication with limited practice time, especially with the IGL change to Zander?
Cryocells: Nothing fundamental has changed in our practice room. We go through each day with specific goals and build brick by brick. We did add one more scrim to our usual schedule, but otherwise it’s the same process: set the goal, work on it, and move to the next thing.
Photo by Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games
You've been with 100T since 2022 and consistently deliver high-level play in all your games. What's your secret to maintaining such a high level?
Cryocells: VALORANT is a huge mental game. Confidence plays a massive role in how you perform. My biggest advice is to be confident in yourself and keep a good mindset, which underpins everything else.
How will you turn the confidence from this result into consistent form for Stage 2 and the rest of the season, especially heading into the playoffs?
Cryocells: It’s going well. We’ve had some dominant wins over KRÜ Esports and NRG, for example, which show we can reach a higher level with this roster. The key is carrying momentum from those wins into playoffs and continuing to improve.
After the lineup change, how would you describe the team’s identity and chemistry right now? And how has your role evolved this season?
Cryocells: Our identity is that we like to fight. We group up and re-take or re-fight areas when we need info or control. That approach is reflected in our comps and our overall playstyle. My role evolves with doing what the comp and the plan need on a given map.
With your Stage 2 wins on the board, what specific areas are you prioritizing to keep progressing into playoffs?
Cryocells: Elevating each other’s confidence and making sure everyone is feeling good, enjoying the process, and communicating well. People play better when they’re enjoying what they do. So, good energy, good comms, and keeping the group in a positive headspace.
What does a great week of practice look like for you this season, and how are you adjusting that routine as Stage 2 progresses?
Cryocells: We set daily and weekly goals. A great week is when we’re clearly meeting those goals, prioritizing them in scrims, staying focused, and seeing the ideas look good in the reps. Scrim results themselves matter less, the process and execution on the mini-goals matter more."
Header Photo Credit: Tina Jo/Riot Games
