EXCLUSIVE: How Aurora Captured the Stars
There is no denying that Aurora is made of superstars. From Renejay to Demonkite, Aurora’s roster is very promising. Most of the main five have already worked together as a team, so team chemistry is already there. Here’s everything you need to know about Aurora and how it captured some of the MPL’s brightest stars.
Aurora Roster MPL-PH Season 14
Aurora’s MPL-PH Season 14 roster is composed of the following:
- John Cedrix Caranto, aka Demonkite – Jungler
- Renejay Barcarse, aka Renejay – Roamer
- Edward Jay Dapadap, aka Edward – Exp Laner
- Jan Dominic Del Delmundo, aka Domeng – Gold Laner
- Kenneth Carl Tadeo, aka Yue – Mid Laner
- Ben Maglaque, aka Benthings – Multirole
- Dexter Alaba, aka Coach Dexstar – Assistant Coach
- Aniel Jiandani, aka Coach Master the Basics – Head Coach
Will VeeWise play for Aurora?
OhMyV33nus and Wise are not part of the regular season roster of Aurora even though they headlined the team’s launch and promotion on social media. However, they could be part of the team’s playoffs roster if the team wants to. This is possible thanks to a new rule called Open Transfer System, which will be significantly different from the player transfer system used in Season 13.
The Full Roster of Aurora PH
Renejay: We’re Not a Super Team
Although other teams such as Smart Omega have called Aurora’s roster as the new super team, the players of Aurora do not think they are such.
“Para sa akin, hindi naman kami super team, saka pangit rin naman sa mindset namin kung isipin namin na super team kami. Nakapasok kaming lahat sa Aurora na lahat kami walang achievements. Para sa akin, lahat kami, nagsisimula pa lang as a team. Masarap maglaro, parang bagong player ulit ako, dahil bagong team. Gutom na gutom sa panalo,” Renejay told ALL-STAR.
Edward photobombs Renejay and ALL-STAR’s Abo Limos
Now that Renejay is back, he feels renewed thirst for winning the MPL championship. In Season 12, Renejay was instrumental in lifting Blacklist International to the M5 stage. He would wake up every day at 9 a.m., have breakfast or coffee, then wake up his teammates at 10 a.m. to play ranked games on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). And then from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., they would have scrims. After 10 p.m., Renejay would stay awake to review and analyze their matches so he could improve.
Who manages Aurora?
Former Blacklist general manager Elrasec Ocampo, aka Boss Rada, is the man behind Aurora PH. Under his leadership, Blacklist International achieved multiple titles in MPL-PH and the M3 world championship title.
According to Coach Master the Basics and Coach Dextar, Boss Rada approached after Blacklist was eliminated in Season 13.
“After the playoffs of Season 13, they contacted us, first was Dextar, and then me after the playoffs ended. There was no offer but they asked us about our plans for Season 14,” Coach MTB revealed to ALL-STAR.
“At that time, I really planned to rest for Season 14 because I was going to have a new baby. But the childbirth came early, so I was able to take a leave early to support my wife.
Dextar: Akala ko ako head coach!
Dextar was the first person Aurora contacted.
“Last season or even two seasons ago, I was already planning to be the head coach of TNC that time,” Coach Dexstar said. But TNC’s management told him to stay put for the time being. And then Aurora came knocking on his door.
“Akala ko talaga, head coach ako ng Aurora,” Coach Dextar told ALL-STAR.
He paused and laughed.
“Kasama ko pala to,” Coach Dextar pointed at Coach Master the Basics.
MTB’s eyes disappeared into slits as he tried to suppress his guilty laughter.
“What was your reaction when you found out Coach MTB was going to be head coach?” we asked Coach Dextar.
“Eh di okay!” Coach Dextar said, with an air of humor.
“They talked to me before they talked to Coach Master the Basics. I was expecting him to stay with Blacklist,” added Coach Dextar.
The Wishlist: How Aurora Captured the Stars
Boss Rada asked Coach Master the Basics and Coach Dextar about what they are looking for in a roster.
“Ang requirements lang naman talaga, number one, dedication. We want someone who is dedicated. We were not looking for anything else. We did not neet someone strong, we just wanted someone who was dedicated to this job,” said Coach Master the Basics.
“We just gave them a list of our top players per role,” Coach Dextar added.
That means Coach Dextar and Coach Master the Basics submitted a wishlist of their top players for each role. The bosses of Aurora took care of the rest.
ALL-STAR persuaded the two coaches to reveal their top picks for Roamer.
“Ah, para sa akin, si Renejay talaga,” said Coach Master the Basics. “Number one ko siya.”
“Para sa akin, si Renejay, naputol yung… Kung napansin niyo naman yung transition ni Renejay from Exp Lane in Season 11 to Roam in Season 12, that was the period in which he was my project, how he played. I wanted to continue working with him through Season 13, pero naputol. Pero noong pinahanap kami ng players, ang number one sa listahan ko talaga ay si Renejay.”
For Coach Dextar, among his picks were Christian “Rafflesia” Fajura and Jomearie “Escalera” Santos. “Kasabayan ko noon si Rafflesia at nakita ko yung clutch plays niya noon sa Sunsparks,” said Coach Dextar.
Aurora officially launched on July 27 at Parqal in Paranaque. Present at the launch were OhmyV33nus, Wise, and the rest of the teams roster. Vee and Wise are currently the team’s brand ambassadors.
