REFUSE TO SETTLE

WOW!!

I must say, 2015 was a great year for me, as a person and as an athlete. I'd say it was a growth stage in my life, especially in PAINTBALL itself. Just like it would in a business at the growth stage, there were ups and downs. Let's review a bit.

So, at the end of 2014, after SOPL Magnum 2014, we finished runner up and overall champions. Some would say it's a great result. I wouldn't deny it but still I had a feeling that this could be better. How?

I also found out that there was an emerging paintball community in Indonesia. I see it growing but maybe not in a way it should. I've been playing paintball since 2008 and even though it hasn't been as long as any other athletes, I would say I have my fair share of knowledge and experience. I see some younger and newer players playing the game without the correct fundamentals and mindset. That was why I came up with a solution by making a Paintball Program. School of Paintball if I may. Really focusing on the development of the player to become an athlete, not just a player. So, me and a few of my friends in Magnum Paintball brainstormed and came up with Double Barrel Effect Paintball Program which was based in Medan. No, it was not a new team, it was purely a concept that we wanted to see players develop into athletes with the right fundamentals and mentality to play paintball.


I wanted to share what I've learned to anyone that wanted to learn more about paintball. And it was a continued effort. By that I mean, I kept on learning myself. Kept on seeking new ways to develop to be better. And so, the first members of DBE (what I like to say), Reza, Jafu, Tama, Nico and Ryan. These were the original members. And then followed by Satrya, Miftah, Josh, Godek, Chandra and so on. we've grown and merged. The fact of the matter is, DBE was opened for anybody.



First event of the year, SOPL Cadika leg 1 2015. I finished my knee rehab just in time for the first event but not at 100% like I would liked but no excuses. Nico and Godek decided to play with Medan Gorga while Miftah played with Smokers, leaving the following members of my program to fall in one group. Despite the challenges, we lost the semifinals and finished 2nd runner up with Nico and Godek finishing 1st place with Medan Gorga. Not too bad I think for the first event for DBE members, All got podium finishes.

My paintball journey didn't stop there for that month. The following week I participated at the Super 7's in Singapore with Hadi Gunawan (One of my paintball mentors). Brand new team, never practiced together but came up 2nd runner up losing by a close match at the semifinals. Made new friends along the way too!


Two weeks, two medals. Not bad. Next stop, Bandung. which was exactly the following week ( Fuih, all that travelling). Pemuda Pancasila Paintball tournament was next in line. This would be my first tournament on Java soil. So I pretty much wanted to make a statement. A positive one that is. In which, by representing DBE, I wanted to promote about the school, the program and the training. But by that to happen, I must perform at a high level and deliver. We ended up getting Runner up but the most happiest moment was when players acknowledge what we were presenting and how to join. That was a point where I knew DBE was heading the right direction.



Too round off a month of paintball was PALS Singapore 2015 where I was guesting with team Medan Gorga. A great event with my fellow DBE members, Tama, Nico and Godek. We went undefeated at the prelims but failed short by making a few mistakes at the quarterfinals that costed us the event. But the team was young so spirits were still high as we progress forward.


So, in one month I got 3 medals out of 4 tournaments representing DBE School of Paintball. After Ramadhan was the 2nd leg of SOPL in Pekanbaru where we also managed to place two teams at the podium, Medan Gorga and Magnum, both consisting with DBE members.



Representing my country at an international event was one of my goals through out my paintball career. And it was next on the list to do, the great thing was out of 10 players representing the Red and White of Indonesia, nine of them were DBE members, original and new members. Oh yes, we grew. It was quite an achievement for me at a personal level, where I could see members of the DBE program being in one team, representing our nation. An honor it was.

At Paintball World Cup 2015 in Langkawi, Indonesia managed to be at the top 16 just above Singapore, who we met at the prelims.



But I would say, team wise. Medan Smokers for the first time did not manage to get through the prelims for the first time in Division 2. It was heart breaking. The effort I put this past year seemed to be flushed down the toilet by a single event.



I got back, realized I had some thinking to do. What went wrong, what did I not do, was this falling apart? It came to a point where I even thought if this was this worth it anymore. Doubts, I guess along the way it'll come, whether or not you believe in the doubts is totally up to you.

REFUSE TO SETTLE!!!!!

I talked to my best friend about the situation and that was our conclusion. We are DBE, We are Grind Up. We never settle and We refuse to settle!

I mean, yeah, there gonna be rough points in our lives. Calls not going our way but you can't give in. Dust off your shoulders and keep grinding. Keep pushing. All off that is in your mind. So, that's what we did. We brushed off our shoulders and grind for the last event of the year, SOPL Magnum 2015 at our home field MAGNUM PAINTBALL Medan.

This event was staged to be the bounce back event. It wasn't about making a statement anymore, it was about proving that what DBE stands for and what we were all about. It was about why was DBE formed and built around. Not pride, not glory but Achievements.

The thing is, during that whole event. It felt like everything that I have'd learned was clicking at the same time. The faults and mistakes we made during the year was all adding up and making itself revealed again. This time, We were ready. It didn't matter we drew and lost the first two games. We kept calm, analyze and perfected our OWN game. Each game we came up with different game plans according to what we saw and what we scouted. Scouting ; this was one thing we never did, and when we did this it was a game changer for us.

FINAL GAME : KJ Team

Probably the best D4 team in Indonesia, was standing our way from victory.

First point : DRAW

Second Point : Lose

Third Point : WIN

It was a draw of a best of 3 finals. The ruling, like it was last year, was that we follow PALS rules. Where in deadlock, we look at the prelims. And so, we came out Runner Up.

This time, heads weren't down. We actually grew as individuals and athletes of the sport. I sense a change, and hopefully for the better.

Why?

REFUSE TO SETTLE.


Dany Sitompul #07



PS:

On another note, maybe here is something you guys might seem interesting ;)



Got it from PALS Rulebook, just found it interesting.

hihihi