Crossfire coach admits crucial mistakes cost SIBOL finals appearance

SIBOL Crossfire coach Francis "Tankz" Catangay was candid after the Philippines' loss to defending SEA Games gold medalist Vietnam in the semifinals on Monday night.

"I think masakit man sabihin, mahirap sabihin pero siguro..." he paused, gathering the words as he spoke to One Sports' Doreen Suaybaguio, "Maybe we kinda deserve yung pagkatalo kasi we made mistakes."

"Natulungan namin talunin na kami nung kalaban. So hindi kami nila talaga literal na tinalo. We made mistakes," he admitted.

SIBOL fielded Pacific Macta, the same team which won silver in the 2021 edition of the SEA Games. This time, they actually had a head coach in Catangay--a former league opponent, plus 20-year-old Justine Perez.

The Philippines actually started out strong in the group stage, dominating Cambodia 10-1 and Laos 10-2 to assure at least a bronze on Monday afternoon.

But the taxing tournament took a toll, as the squad headed right into the semifinals on Monday night. It was a curious format too, as the Philippines (top seed of Group A) faced Vietnam (top seed of Group B), in the best-of-three semifinals.

Philippine Esports Organization Secretary General Joebert Yu talked to the organizers about it but was told that it was what was stated in the rule book, according to Suaybaguio.

SIBOL started out strong in the first map, 10-5. But lapses were made and the 2021 gold medalists, represented by CELEB.e2L, took home the next matches, 10-7, 10-4.

"It was really going well for us, the momentum was on our side. We almost closed the second map," Catangay said, noting a particular breakdown in the game.

"We kinda lost discipline, 'yun 'yung parang naging break of the game," he added. "Definitely I think that will haunt us. Pero for sure, 'di 'yun 'yung pipigil sa amin na maging better."

Mag-uuwi ng bronze medal ang SIBOL Crossfire matapos matalo ng defending champions na Vietnam sa semifinals, 1-2. #SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023 #News5 | via One Sports pic.twitter.com/M8Y8ckAN36

— News5 (@News5PH) May 8, 2023

SIBOL did bounce back the next day, as the Philippines demolished Laos, 10-1, 10-1, 10-1 to officially take third place.

JUST IN | Another esports medal for Team PH as SIBOL bags the bronze after a 3-0 win over Laos in Crossfire!

📷Doreen Suaybaguio #SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023 pic.twitter.com/U7xSV3VdkS

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 9, 2023

Perez, the new face of the team, was hailed MVP with a K/D ratio 14/3 along with six headshots.

"Sorry Pilipinas, bronze ngayon pero hindi tayo titigil. We will do better for sure," Catangay vowed. "I'm really proud of what they did."

"Bronze, loud and proud. Salamat pa rin, Pilipinas!"

(With reports from Doreen Suaybaguio, One Sports)

(CF)