Let me take you back a couple of months. As I wondered and thought about this after my last outing on the 1st leg of MPOC 2013, it was about having a competitive Indonesian Paintball Team. A team that is filled with experience, heart and compassion to compete at the highest level. I thought of it for days. I texted my good friend Hadi Gunawan and told him about my views, and asked him what he thought. We exchanged a couple of possibilities about it. In short, it could happen. But we had to plan it to every detail, not just come up with a couple of guys just to play a tournament and be gone with it.
I kept on training every weekend I could to make myself better. I knew I had to because what I want to complete in this sport is not just being in it. I wanted to win. So, I prepared myself for it every week. A couple of weeks go by and Hadi texted me and about competing on the 2nd Leg of MY-NPL (Malaysian National Paintball League) in Melaka. He asked me and Kelby Wong to join with him and Rony Budiman to form a competitive team for the event. Of course I said yes, as it was in my thoughts for a long time now. We brought in another member from Java Genies, Shen, to join the team. And then there was five.
The tournament was a Race-to format, so we had to make some more recruitments. I had to choose carefully and wisely. We were short in front players, so I knew I had to choose a attacking minded player. What better choice than, Reza Al-Habsyi. He's been practicing with me every weekend, so I knew he was ready even though this will be his first tournament in division 3. I actually had a couple of names I could have chosen but at that time the only attacking minded player I thought was ready and practices all the time was him. I consulted with team and they all agreed. But we all felt that we still needed a last player. Since it was a race-to format and we didn't have a crew, just a coach, we decided we had to make one more addition to the team. One that was willing to help out in the pits and ready to play. I came up with four names, asked the team about them and then I asked them one by one. Two of the names I proposed couldn't seem to make it, the other two were Hendika and Ican. I asked the team of which should we pick. It was a long debate of pros and cons and finally it was Hendika for the final spot. And then there was seven. Hanoman's Army was complete.
The layout came out, and it was the same layout of the PSP Dallas Open 2013. I personally loved the layout. So, on the weekend we practiced the layout and learn as much as we can to prepare for MY-NPL Melaka.
April the 26th, 2013
Kelby Wong, Reza Al-Habsyi, Hendika Putra and I depart from Medan to Kuala Lumpur at 8 AM. We arrived at Kuala Lumpur around 10 AM and decided to have breakfast as we waited for our other teammates to come. Hadi Gunawan with his wife and Shen came second from Jakarta and Rony Budiman with his wife came last from Semarang. The whole team was together at last. We exchanged greetings and waited for the pick up. The organizers was kindly enough to give us bus tickets to Melaka at 2 PM. So, as we all waited for the bus we met the Waxers Legion team at McDonalds and had lunch together.
The two hour trip to Melaka was pleasant. I actually slept all the way, because the night before I didn't have enough sleep. It's always like this for me pre tournament. As we arrived at the bus station, we were picked up from the organizers who drove us all to our apartment in Melaka. It was called the Mahkota Hotel. The place was beautiful. I could see the field from our 14th floor apartment.
We changed and went down to head to the field. Catch a couple of drinks and then walked the field for a few hours. We looked at all angles as we complied a couple of gameplans. After walking the field and getting our ID tags, we all head out to Modiva to have dinner and a team meeting. We discussed gameplans for a couple of hours, leaving it all out so we could have the ideal gameplan for tomorrow's competition. After all was set, we went back to the apartment and rested.
April the 27th, 2013
GAME DAY 1
I woke up, had a shower and got breakfast. Our game was at 10.45 AM, we headed to the field around 8 AM so we could catch some games and so we could properly prepare everything. I did my usual routine, putting on my gear one by one in a matter I only know how, warmed up and waited for the game. As our team was called, Hamonan's Army, we grabbed our gear and head to the pits. We went over our gameplans again to make sure everyone was ready. We all knew what we were supposed to do, where to shoot, where to attack and where we would conquer. I was ready. We were ready! As they called Hanoman's Army to enter the field, one by one we stepped into the field with confidence. Released our barrel socks and tested our guns. We were focused. "Get ready for 10 seconds", the marshall said. As I looked at the game clock run down the 10 seconds, I remember the countdown, three, two, one, then someone said "Go!". Two of our guys began shooting. In my mind, Oh,shit. The buzzer haven't sounded. This had to be a false start. Than I heard the buzzer as a took of running and gunning, but honestly I lost my focus, I got shot on the side of my goggles, Rony got shot running to the Back Snake, Kelby got pulled for a false start. It was a disaster. We lost the point. The good thing was, no one was blaming anyone. We kept calm, pod up and gas up. Cleaned ourselves and went back to the field. "10 seconds!". Wait for the buzzer I said on my mind. The buzzer sounded, I took off. We immediately got a G off the break on the snake side. I saw the opening and dived in the snake. The last thing I knew was Kelby getting the flag and hanging it. Yes! Won the point, so the score was 1-1. This is a race-to-2 format so we had to get this last point to win. Went to our pits, podded up, gassed up and went back in. "10 Seconds!", and I realized we were short one player. Oh no, Kelby was running from the pits as fast as he could. He made it, the buzzer sounded and the game was on. As I spot a G on the snake side, I heard immediately we lost our dorito side in an instant. I defended as long as I could but in the end we lost the point, and the game. Not the start we were expecting at all. a 1-2 lost.
We went back to our paddock. Discussed what went wrong, everyone spoke out what happened in their end. The first thing was, wait for the buzzer, don't count down the time. Second, was we must have more firepower. Third, was remembering to put out the barrel sock before each game. Conclusion, we had to make adjustments, including myself who got shot off the break. We took time to set up a new gameplan. What we could do different from our previous game. We all made contribution, and we came up with a new gameplan. For the second game we needed speed and firepower, so we all agreed to give Reza a chance playing the front dorito and resting Shen for awhile. Our second game was after lunch break so, we decided to get some burgers for the whole team while watching games in between. I met up with a couple of other friends, having a laugh and discussed stuff. It was great to see them.
Our second game was up. I knew we had to change things up, had to play our game, stick to our gameplan and focus on our tasks. When we stepped into the field I realized I had to fire up my teammates. I called them up together, spoke some words and chant : HANOMAN'S!!! They replied : ARMY!!!
"10 Seconds". The buzzer sounded, we were off. Very different from the last game, we were dominate in this one. We won the game 2-0. Nice, but I didn't want to carry away. Just like the first game, we came back to the paddock and immediately discuss the game. This was truly feeling like a true team. We put everything on and off the field. As we did this we won our third and forth game both 2-0, and finished the prelim games on top of our group putting us automatically into the quarterfinals. Sunday club! That was a great feeling. We packed our gear and decided to catch some drinks and have some dinner.
At dinner we discussed what we did today to further details and what we should do tomorrow. Had it all cleared up before the first meal was served. So, we ate with smiles and laughter. Except for Hendika, his order haven't came. We finished our meals, order a couple more drinks but still Hendika's order still haven't came. I asked, "WTF did u order?". "Omni rice.", he said. So, the team asked the waiter and the waiter said. "Yes, 3 minutes". And the 3 minutes took more than an hour. The poor guy was so hungry. So, we hung out until late and then went back to the apartment to get some rest.
April the 28th, 2013
GAME DAY 2, Sunday Club
We reached the field around 8 AM to watch who we would face on our quarterfinals match. Did our recon and get our gear ready. As usual, I did my routine. A quarterfinals match is always a stressed out kind of match. Because, if you lose, you go home. It was a do or die kind of mentality. I tried to not focus on that. We had to play our game. We already scouted the opponent, so in a way we should be good. As they called our team, we headed to the pits with confidence. I know it's a new day, the opponent have already had a match before us so they were already hot and played the field already (as we switched fields from our yesterday's field). So, I had to make sure we weren't stepping into the field slow and cold. The Buzzer sounded, and our quarterfinals match was off. I felt like I flew to the snake, making a couple of G's and making sure we got the point. Went back to the pits, podded up and gassed up and immediately step back into the field. My mind was set, I wasn't even going to make my team lose. That was my mentality. The buzzer sounded, and I took off. Same like the first set, I took the flag and walked it to the flag station, Hadi checked me if I was clean and walked me over. We won our quarterfinals! I had a sense of relief, but I knew this wasn't over. We had two more games to play and make it to the top.
I've been in this position before, Semifinals, win and play for the top or lose. I can't put my foot on it yet, but after the quarters, I felt a little different. I don't know whether it was because I was tired, physically or mentally. In a way, I never want to disappoint any of my teammates. Giving the fact they picked me as captain. Even though, we all shared everything, from experience to gameplans and fun. There was a part of me that I still can't get my hand on. But it's not an excuse, I still had to focus. I knew other teams were already scouting us, so we had to make sure our gameplan was right for the semis. We talked it over, came up with some other versions so we could be ready. Basically, it was the same gameplan but secondary moves were a little different.
As our semifinals was approaching, I had time to think some things over. And then our team was called, so we got ready and headed to the pits. Semifinals, one more step closer to the top. The buzzer sounded, I took off looking at the stream on paint that I was expecting to come. There wasn't any. So, I didn't think further and jumped in the snake. I pulled up my gun and shot across to the command center, while wrapping occasionally. I looked at my mirror, no one was there. I remembering thinking, this was my chance. so I crawled my way up. Half way, I got shot. I remember being so angry at myself as I walked out the field. Hadi then walked out too, I saw Reza having gun problems. And shortly the set was over, 0-1. I podded up, gassed up but I was so pissed at myself. Why didn't I check the Center A before I moved? In all the games I did exactly that, why in the semis I didn't check. As I stepped back in, I was determined to redeem myself. The buzzer sounded for the second set, I took off. Right as I slide to my bunker, I got hit in the goggles. I was so frustrated, I punched my bunker as I walked off the field. How in the world did I let that happen again! I watched my teammates battle, but it was too late. We lost the second set also, 0-2. Lost the semis. I was devastated. I didn't want it to turn out like this. We headed back to the paddock, and discussed what happened. Conclusion, they read our gameplan so well. We were expecting them to go wide, that never happened. They played us off the middle of the field. But that wasn't an excuse for me being so clumsy and not checking before I made my move. That was my mistake to burn. And I shouldn't have been too emotional about it, that carried into the second set, and I guessed that's why I got shot off the break. I was emotional and I hesitated. I knew I let my team down. It was the same mistake I did at the start of the tournament, hesitated, and that made me wide open to be chewed on. After calming down a bit, We decided to make some changes, some playing time for the others.
This was for 3rd and 4th placing. We still wanted to win. This would be a game changer and a mood changer. So, the first set I was replaced by Hendika, putting Reza playing the snake and Hendika playing the dorito. Won the first set, a nice start. I replaced Hadi, as we put Reza back on the dorito side and me on the snake side. We also put Shen in the Back Dorito, giving a different look. The set ended up in a 1 on 1 with me against the opponent. This was my second 1 on 1. I won the previous 1 on 1 the day before in the prelims, and like the prelims I was down to only what I had in my hopper. I was in a high position, with him in a low position. I tried to make a move. This will be the stupidest thing I ever did in this tournament and maybe my whole paintball carreer. I was trying to run him down, got lit up in the process. Very stupid. The third set was a void game, leading into overtime. As the game started, I got into my bunker and shot my lanes. I saw one guy running through the middle trying to bunker Hadi, I lit him up, but he played on and still shot Hadi out. The ref pulled both of them out. No matter, I dove into the snake. Trying to make damage control and holding the opponent snake to get in. I remember looking at my dorito side wondering why isn't there a move? All the sudden I see Reza moving up the center Maya. I saw him having trouble with his gun. I tried to make a move up the snake but got shot from a paintball bouncing from a bunker and hit my hopper. I walked out the field and then saw Reza trying to grab the flag but out lit up. This caused a change in the gameplan. Leaving Rony on the snake side and Kelby on the Dorito side. A 2 on 2. Kelby shot the opponent on the snake side but them got bunkered. Leaving Rony on the snake side getting bunkered also. We lost in overtime, putting us 4th place.
All in all, this was the first time our team ever played together. And this was our first tournament together. Some might say, good job or that's okay giving the conditions or something like that. Getting 4th place in a first tournament, that's a hell of a job. I'm not saying that it's wrong, but I felt like I could have done things better or differently. The thing is, that's always the case when you lose. And I hate losing. I'm a sore loser.
But, I do know this is a good result. And we are still in process on getting better. Improving. As I sit down writing this, remembering the experience in whole and what I could do better. I know my mistakes, I know what I did wrong, my teammates also took the time saying what I did wrong and I appreciate it. It will drive me more. To be better and stronger. I won't stop here. I will continue to grow.
For me, this experience has all the aspects for me to become better.
-Mastermind #07-
