were just one game away from qualifying for Mid Season Invitational after taking an early 2-0 lead over
in the LEC Spring Split Playoffs. However,
G2 completed a dramatic reverse sweep in the deciding fifth game to secure the first European ticket to MSI, denying MKOI the chance to close out the series.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, MKOI’s playoff run is still alive, and the team now awaits its next opponent for another opportunity to qualify for the international event alongside G2.
In an interview with
Sheep Esports,
discussed the team’s struggles in the final games of the series, his confidence in MKOI’s level despite the defeat, and why he is not interested in participating in the Esports Nation Cup.
Unfortunately, the match didn't end as you guys wanted. How did you prepare before coming into the match against G2?
David "Supa" Martínez García: "I didn't do any special preparation for today. I think I just got ready for it like a normal day, same routine because I think I performed the best doing what every day I tried to do at my 100%. So I just did a normal preparation with the things super clear for me and I think it works.
It worked at the first two games and then G2 reverse swept as the broadcast said multiple times it was the first time that you guys got reverse swept. What was the thought in a moment before going into game five?
Supa: Yeah. I mean, my thought was that even after the game 2, doesn't matter what happened next game, we will have another opportunity and we believe that the best team always win and we were pretty confident all the games we didn't. Honestly, I think no one thought about the reverse sweep, so we were pretty calm and confident in that.
And how about game five? Can you maybe talk me throughout the game?
Supa: We were pretty confident with the comp. We just need to hold scale till one moment we are really strong. After the ending we start to dis-coordinating some timers, then sometimes we do it good, but in the most important we still dis-coordinate one more time. So it was like we were not in the same page, all of us for the last fight. And when you are in late game, it matters a lot the next play. It's just, again, I say a little details in the last moment that you need to be more ready and it's something we are missing sometimes. In the game 3 and 5, especially we need to be more together to send it, but we were all in the same page before the game.
How do you work together with your team to ensure that you're on the same page in the game without communicating all the time?
Supa: First you need to work outside of the game, how you want to win the games, how you want to see the situation. And then in game we need to agree kind of to each other. We usually follow to
calls because it's the way the team works the best, but most likely everyone come calling in some moments. So we just try to be on the same page, but it's through like still sometimes any of us wants to do any solo player or whatever or some split. These are things that are harder to improve, but still I think in the trainings you can work around that to be more consistent.
In a past interview with us you said to put a lot of time into understanding the game at a pretty deep level. And I wanted to follow up on that, how do you understand League at a deep level?
Supa: First, there is not one correct way of understanding league, so you need to understand it your own way. So at the end, it's how you want to end up end games. And from this, you work since you start competing, and then you need to put it together with the five of us, which is the hard part, but any of us see for sure different how you want to engage. So you just need to make sure to connect and do the plays on the same page for everyone.
I think that's how you work on this, but you keep learning this every day, and every day you learn new things, or you change opinions. So basically, individually, as you say, studying the game, playing Solo queue, playing screams, watching others, even theory crafting, you yourself alone are a lot of possible ways to improve.
In that same interview you said that if MKOI doesn't make MSI, it would be a failure. Are you still convinced you will be going to MSI to represent the LEC after today?
Supa: Yeah. I mean, I think we are the best team in Europe right now. I think we can beat anyone, but we need to work to be more consistent and make it more natural so that when we are on stage, it's really, really hard for the enemy to take us game now. So, I think we are going to go to MSI, I think we are going to get the trophy, but also I think there are two weeks till the next match. So we need to work really hard still to be on point to be better and not lose again.
Ahead of this weekend, the All Pro Teams for Spring Split were revealed and even though you had a great performance, today as well, you did not appear in the all pro team. Did you had any thought about it or does that not even concern you?
Supa: I mean, the only thing you think is why people don't see the same as you see, but this is going to always happen. The best way to prove yourself now is with titles or with trophies, so I didn't think about it too much, I believe I'm playing at my best. I think I'm playing really, really well. So now I need to prove it, and the time is going to talk alone. I don't really mind when the people from outside boats and all these things, because at the end, maybe you are playing for something they don't believe is good.
What do you see in yourself, in your bot duo, that other people might not see? I would expect a lot of people to have heated opinions after this match. So can you help me understand better your perspective?
Supa: Yeah. I mean, for example, I think I'm a person who sees how really clear how to win in all the parts of the game, fights, early game, mid-game, how to win the game since the beginning. I don't need any kind of lead. So I'm always able to be in a winning spot to win the game. I think that's what makes the greatest. And for example, in general, in Europe we tend to be just one play style or really aggressive or guys that want to play only macro, I consider myself [a player] who tries to understand what is the correct play for me in any moment and do it. So it's really hard to read a person like that.
You did mention this in an interview with ChinaGAP that you're not going to ENC because you are actually “not interested” in the competition. I wanted to ask you if you could explain it better or if you really don't care for the competition because it's not an official one.
Supa: Yeah, I'm not interested in this competition since it's not official or anything, it's just a tournament from… I think, Saudi Arabia are the owners, no? I'm not one hundred percent sure, but it's around that. So I'm not interested. I don't see anything to be proud of, or you are going to represent your country, so it's not a tournament for me.
I understand the Spanish community is very passionate about representing their own country. Can you maybe explain the last part a bit better? About you not caring too much about representing your country?
Supa: Yeah, I mean, I would like to do that in the future, if there is a real official competition that you could represent your country in, but I don't think you represent your country in this tournament, especially.
I wouldn't want what you're saying to be misinterpreted, so can you tell me what you would say would be an official competition? Like something from Riot or..
Supa: Yeah, something from Riot.”
