Daiki Wasn’t Supposed to Be A Gold Laner

On Friday afternoon, Team Liquid PH (TLPH) announced on their Facebook page that AeronnShikii will miss the entire opening week of the MPL Philippines Season 17.

To cover the slot left behind by the Indonesian import, their sixth man, Kim “Daiki” Sebanes, stepped up.

“Wala naman masyadong big adjustments kasi parehas naman kaming gold laner. So, sa individual skill lang naman talaga magba-base,” Daiki told ALL-STAR .

Since the team learned of AeronnShikii’s issue just days before their first game of the season, their practice didn’t go well. But Daiki stepped up, helping the reigning MPL champions Team Liquid PH win against the reigning world champions Aurora Gaming PH with a 2-1 score. 

Daiki was MVP in Game 1.

“Sa practice, kagaya nga ng sinabi ni Coach Aeon, hindi naging maganda yung mga resulta ng naging practice namin, mas maganda yung naipakita ko ngayon (against Aurora Gaming PH),” he said.

And maybe that’s why the adjustment looked easy. No forced chemistry. No overthinking. Just understanding his place in a system that already works, since he was close with the four main players even before the roster lock.

“Syempre, watching them na naglalaro nang matagal na magkakasama, madali lang naman talaga mag-adjust sa kanila kasi nga gagampanan mo lang naman talaga yung role mo as a player.”

Maybe because he wasn’t supposed to be where he is right now in the first place.

Daiki was meant to rise as an analyst.

It was Mitch Liwanag, TLPH’s Country Manager, who first saw his understanding of the game, not just his mechanics. 

From Team Liquid Academy to the main roster, he stayed and was supposed to be behind the scenes. Listening to comms, studying in-game decisions, and even stepping in after losses to point out mistakes.

“Actually si Mitch talaga yung naka-discover ng talent ko as an analyst. Dapat nga yung pag-angat ko sa MPL is hindi as a player, as an analyst talaga ako. Pero, biglang nangyari na naging sixth man ako,” Daiki explained.

“Syempre galing akong MDL nila (Team Liquid Academy PH) and nasa iisang bootcamp kami, then 6th man ako sa MDL, tapos sila (Team Liquid PH) is nakakasama ko and since nakakasama ko sila, mas marami akong natututuhan dahil sa mga experience nila, naririnig ko yung mga gagawin in-game, [and] mga preparations.”

Daiki Helps Pinpoint Weaknesses in the Team

“Kapag natatalo din yung team, tumutulong ako sabihin kung ano yung mga mistakes ng player. Tapos nakikinig naman sila [sa akin] kaya naging ka-close ko sila nang sobra and then hindi ko talaga ine-expect na mapapansin iyon ni Mamitch. And iyon yung naging offer sa akin na aakyat ako ng MPL, gagawing 6th man and as an Analyst,” he continued.

When asked how Liwanag’s discovery of his talent as an analyst could affect his future after his impressive MPL debut performance against Aurora Gaming PH, he remained grounded.

“Sa akin talaga, hindi ko muna talaga iyon iniisip maging analyst. Ngayon, iniisip ko lang talaga yung present, at least in the future, pwedeng may mangyari pero ngayon syempre ako yung naglalaro kaya focus muna ako sa play ko,” Daiki concluded.

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