Games

bang on Sentinels falling to G2 and how many Bangkok puns he’s heard

BBG News

At esports.gg, we had a conversation with Bang following the defeat of Sentinels against G2 Esports in the Grand Finale of the VCT Americas Kickoff 2025.

Sentinels have been impressively strong in VALORANT this year 2025, showing great promise even against a formidable opponent like G2 Esports in the Grand Final of Masters Bangkok. Regrettably, despite their best efforts led by Sean “bang” Bezerra, they narrowly missed victory in the five-map series.

After the loss, we had a chat about how things have been going for him and the Sentinels team so far. Despite their defeat, they’ve managed to secure a spot in Masters Bangkok. Naturally, there’s no shortage of witty remarks connecting his name with the tournament location in Thailand.

bang says Sentinels vs. G2 in the Grand Final was puggy and scrappy

Wow, what an exciting game we just witnessed! The past three days have been filled with high-stakes matches during the VCT Americas Kickoff. Has this marathon of intense competition taken a toll on your mental and physical well-being?

As a gamer, I must admit that it has significantly impacted my gaming experience. Frankly, it’s been quite draining and overwhelming in many aspects. It’s been wearing me down.

It traveled far, reaching locations and scenarios this year that none of you have encountered before. Given the unpredictability, it’s crucial to be ready for any eventuality. Do you think your preparations this time around were as thorough as they possibly could have been?

“It seems our preparation was quite comprehensive. There were certainly aspects unknown to us, such as the appearance of their Haven. However, we had a good grasp on most other details. In terms of what we needed to know for preparation and counter-strategy, I believe we were well informed.”

Could you share with me your experience during the initial phase of the Kickoff tournament? Your team has advanced to the Grand Final and is on the brink of winning the trophy. What self-discoveries have you made about yourself over the past month of competition?

Translation: “I discovered certain aspects that require my personal attention, issues I find difficult to disclose openly, but yes, that’s the major takeaway. I’ve gained insights about myself that necessitate improvement and correction for me to excel as a player.

Apart from the fact that I must admit, I’ve never been part of a team quite like this one. It’s filled with incredibly skilled and intelligent players. Each member of my team is exceptionally gifted and talented.

These individuals are skillful at their game and can quickly adjust to various situations. It’s truly an enjoyable experience to team up with them. Each one of them is outstanding, and they all richly deserve their accomplishments.

“You’ve been part of some strong teams throughout your career, including TSM, Built By Gamers, 100 Thieves in VCT, and now Sentinels. However, you haven’t won a trophy in the VCT Americas yet, despite coming close against G2. Given that you’re on this current Sentinels roster, what makes this team capable of lifting a trophy at some point during this year?”

It seems our team’s lineup consists of only five exceptional players, each capable of delivering standout performances that could potentially clinch a victory for us. Needless to say, our teamwork is crucial as well.

Despite today falling short of our usual standards, when we give our all and perform at our peak, we become nearly invincible, bordering on being truly unbeatable. In truth, I believe that with this team, the possibilities are endless.

I’ve noticed that many people have been saying this season that Zellsis and the players who were on the team last year with TenZ and Sacy believe there is greater potential in the team this year, despite those two prominent members leaving. Did you feel any apprehension joining a team with such notable figures to follow?

To be honest, I was engrossed in playing my personal game. I’m not like Sacy or TenZ. Undeniably, those are incredibly skilled players with a multitude of accomplishments. However, that’s not what they were aiming for. They weren’t looking to produce another TenZ, another Sacy.

Instead of asking us to step into the roles of TenZ and Sacy, they wanted us to simply be authentic versions of ourselves – individuals who are new, ready, and driven.

In our discussions throughout Kickoff, we’ve learned about each team member extensively. Zellsis is the seasoned leader, Johnqt serves as our strategic mastermind as IGL, Zekken excels at fragging, and N4RRATE has made a remarkable comeback from EMEA last year. Now, let me ask you, what’s your tale? What makes you unique within this team in the year 2025?

To be honest, I wasn’t part of the most successful team. My career in franchising has been rather uneven, with some victories, but last year was more successful compared to previous years.

I’m teaming up with athletes who have previously won Masters Madrid, N4RRATE, and Kickoff, with the latter being a victory of mine in Stage 1. While each of us has our own impressive accomplishments, I can’t help but feel that my journey pales in comparison to the ‘core three.’ However, I’m determined to reach their level of success and ultimately compete for a championship.

Let’s discuss the game itself. You faced off against a team often referred to as the best in the world, on five different maps. In your experience, did they play like the best team in the world while you were competing against them?

bang: “They’re definitely very good. They were on top of their game today. They played really well. They looked confident. I mean, they made mistakes, we made a lot of mistakes. I feel like it was mostly just a scrappy series in general. But best team in the world? I have yet to see the other regions play that much, because I’ve been so busy practicing myself.

It’s somewhat unclear, but my assumption is that they might have been [the best team in the Americas]. I get a sense that we could have been as well, had we performed better as a team today. If our performance had been stronger, I believe we could have made a more compelling case for being the top team in the Americas. However, unfortunately, we didn’t play up to our potential today. And, alas, such is life.

After the series ended, if I were to reflect on it now and point out any differences that contributed to G2’s victory, what do you think those differences might have been?

As a gamer, I have to admit, we were caught off guard on Haven. They ran a strategy we hadn’t seen before, making it tough to predict their moves. Preparation is key in our game, but when you don’t know what’s coming next, it’s challenging. With our team composition, we found ourselves having to take risks and act unconventionally, which isn’t always the smoothest or most coordinated.

To be honest, it was quite tough for us. We hadn’t played that map in a while, so they seemed to have an advantage. Their gameplay was superior on that particular map. Everything seemed smoother for them. As we tried to regroup towards the end, they continued to play better. I can’t think of another way to put it.

Great news! Masters Bangkok is coming up soon. Kudos on your qualification! So, what’s the main emphasis for your team as you prepare for this international competition?

“It seems clear to me that there are numerous areas requiring improvement, but what stands out most is maintaining a positive team environment and ambiance. I believe this is something we’ve found challenging in the past. We tend to get distracted, not just collectively, but also individually.

Overthinking can be a common issue among people. Sometimes we make mistakes and get stuck dwelling on them, which can negatively impact team dynamics. We’ve been working hard to address this problem over the past two days and have made significant progress. This will continue to be our primary focus moving forward, especially as we prepare for Bangkok.

Ensuring we maintain a positive and collaborative work environment is crucial for us. There are aspects we need to refine tactically, particularly in terms of teamwork and our fundamental approach. I believe that what’s most important right now is preserving a positive energy among us.

Last but not least, I can’t help but wonder, after just one day, how often have you encountered ‘Bangkok’ puns since becoming qualified?

I’m utterly swamped. There are so many instances, it’s beyond counting. It’s amusing in a peculiar way, and yes, it happens more times than I could possibly keep track of.

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2025-02-12 05:41

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