Selangor Red Giants ready to roar into Mid Season Cup defence
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) powerhouse made history by winning the MSC on debut in Riyadh last year.
Coach Michael Angelo Bocado, better known as Arcadia, knows the road to a second title will be far tougher.
The Filipino tactician believes his players have grown significantly since that historic win, with their maturity evident in their recent Mobile Legends: MPL Malaysia (MPL MY) campaign, where they secured a third consecutive league title last month.
"We're ready for the MSC mission," said Bocado at the Malaysia Esports Accelerator Programme (MEAP) launch at the ESI Hub, Spacerubix in Puchong on Thursday.
"We've had enough time to adapt to the meta and are now very confident in our understanding of the game.
"There's a huge difference from last year — then, it was our first international event together, and we lacked experience. Now, we're calmer, more seasoned, and we know what to expect at this level."
SRG. OG are among nine Malaysian eSports teams to receive MEAP funding, ranging from RM5,000 to RM40,000, to help cover costs for international tournaments.
Other MLBB recipients include Homebois and Navi eSports, while Nova eSports, Black Shrew eSports, and Alpha Gaming (Honor of Kings) also received support.
Homebois will compete in the eFootball Championship Open in Japan, WPS Hariz will feature in the IESF World Esports Championship, and Axle Sports will represent Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said eSports has evolved beyond leisure into a billion-ringgit industry.
"MEAP reflects the government's commitment to supporting local talent on the global stage," said Adam.
"The programme does not just focus on gameplay but also addresses the mental and physical wellbeing of players.
"We'll expand MEAP to include other titles like Tekken 8, Street Fighter, and Tetris — even if they don't have official competitions.
"Any Malaysian representing the country internationally remains eligible for MEAP support. We won't let our talents miss these opportunities."
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