RRQ Monyet: “After xffero’s 1v4 clutch, I thought we actually had a chance to win”

Monyet

"We actually helped DRX qualify for Champs"

Following Rex Regum Qeon’s reverse sweep victory against TALON in the VCT Pacific Playoffs - Lower Bracket Final, Sheep Esports spoke with Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha. The star player reflected on the series, the “Korean Slayers” nickname, and what lies ahead at Champions Paris.

What do you think made the biggest difference for RRQ in today’s series?

Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha: “Our mentality was the biggest factor coming into this game. It’s never easy to come back from being down 0-2, then pushing it to 3-2 and into overtime. At the end of Sunset, honestly, I felt almost hopeless because nothing was working, the momentum was against us, and everything just felt off. But what mattered most is that we didn’t give up — we kept believing in each other and pushed through.

Where do you think the turning point in the series was, and when did you start to feel the reverse sweep coming?

Monyet: For me, it was after xffero’s (David Monangin) 1v4 clutch. That round really changed the atmosphere. Before that, it was hard to see the comeback happening, but after that clutch I thought, "Okay, there’s a real chance we can actually win this series." It gave us belief and shifted the momentum.

Everyone is calling RRQ the ‘Korean Slayers.’ After knocking out all the Korean teams, how do you and your team feel about that nickname?

Monyet: Honestly, I think it’s really funny because it started as a joke. In the group stage, we actually lost to DRX, so we weren’t really thinking about that. But then in playoffs we managed to beat almost all the Korean teams, and people started calling us the Korean Slayers. We just laughed about it at first, but it does feel nice to have that recognition. And today, in a way, we even helped DRX qualify for Champs, which makes the nickname even funnier.

Which international team are you most excited to face at Champions?

Monyet: For me, it’s FNATIC. Even though from what I’ve seen they’re not in their best form in EMEA right now, I really believe they’ll bounce back at Champs. Playing against FNATIC is always exciting, and I’m really looking forward to that matchup in Paris.

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How has the team’s atmosphere changed compared to the start of the year?

Monyet: The atmosphere has improved so much. At the beginning of the year, we brought in two new players — crazyguy (Ngô Công Anh) and Kushy (Bryan Setiawan). crazyguy, especially, has been such an important addition. He’s a true leader, something we were missing before, and he’s given us stability and confidence. Thanks to him, our mentality has been getting stronger and stronger as the season went on.

Photo Credit: Riot Games

What’s one thing fans might not see on stage but that makes RRQ special behind the scenes?

Monyet: I think it’s how open we are with each other. On stage people see us arguing, laughing, or showing emotion — and honestly, that’s exactly how we are behind the scenes as well. We don’t hide things, we’re very honest with one another, and I think that openness is what makes our bond as a team really special.”

Header Photo Credit: Riot Games