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| Already pondering about a possible stint abroad, Miguel "Sionnn" Alcantara got a major breakthrough by signing with Twisted Minds PH for MPL Philippines Season 16. MPL Philippines (file photo) |
MANILA--When word began spreading out that Onic Philippines ended its developmental league affiliation deal with Nine Lives and the latter disbanded its entire roster, fresh from ruling MDL Philippines Season 5, speculations from Indonesia heated up that three of its members, including head coach JP "Right" Lugtu, are moving to Dewa United.
A report from Detik the day before Nine Lives confirmed its dissolution claimed that Lugtu, Miguel "Sionnn" Alcantara, and Carlo "Caloy" Roma are at least 80 percent sure they're packing their bags for Serang, Indonesia.
However, upon the team's announcement on Thursday, Dewa only confirmed Lugtu as its new head coach, quashing rumors that Alcantara and Roma are MPL Indonesia-bound too.
Then on Saturday, Twisted Minds Philippines confirmed that Alcantara and Roma are joining their fellow former Onic Nine Lives guys, Lance "Lansu" Misa and Mico "Nosia" Guevarra, in their "promotion" to MPL Philippines.
When asked by Dugout Philippines about their decision, Alcantara and Roma confirmed that Dewa indeed reached out to them about the possibility of joining their former head coach.
At the end of the day, though, there is no place like home.
"Ayokong ma-feel yung pagiging homesick pag sa ibang bansa kasi syempre sa family ko. Saka baka hindi ako makapaglaro nang maayos pag hindi puro Filipino yung kasama ko. Mas pipiliin ko rin talaga yung Pilipinas," Alcantara said.
Roma also echoed the homesickness factor and added, "Gusto ko ring ma-experience maging isang player sa ibang bansa, pero mas maganda sa Pilipinas kasi parang competitive yung pace dito. Gusto kong masubukan kung ano ba talaga yung MPL dito sa Pilipinas. Plus dito, sama-sama kami. Ayokong sayangin yung pagkakaibigan namin. Parang dito na namin ibubuhos lahat sa MPL."
Only AJ "Kayn" Sombilon completed a transfer abroad as he was signed by Cambodian club See You Soon, but the Onic Nine Lives boys quickly found new allies as junglers Michael "MP The King" Endino and Stephen "Sensui" Castillo stay on for Twisted Minds PH.
While both he and Roma said they were surprised that the Dewa rumor surfaced, Alcantara admitted that he was already contemplating about moving to Indonesia if the Twisted Minds PH deal did not come.
"Second option ko yun kung hindi ako mag-MPL PH," he said.
Both players also said that given a chance, they would have wanted to join their former coach at Dewa.
"Gusto namin sanang sumunod kasi siya yung mentor namin para mag-champion sa MDL PH," Alcantara further said.
A future reunion could wait, but for now, Alcantara, Roma, and the rest of the former Onic Nine Lives core will savor the moment of their de facto promotion to MPL PH under the Twisted Minds PH banner with Kristoffer "Bon Chan" Ricaplaza now handling them.
