try: "We are happy about our form, but we know we can do better"
Santino "try" Rigal is one of the two remaining players from Marcelo "coldzera" David's original project with 00 Nation. After failing to qualify for the PGL Antwerp Major, 00 Nation saw no action for nearly three months, as the team was ripped apart bit by bit until only coldzera and try remained. Now, with the squad revitalized by the addition of Epitacio "TACO" de Melo, Eduardo "dumau" Wolkmer, and Bruno "latto" Rebelatto, 00 Nation are positioning themselves to be a dangerous team, capable of contending with top teams despite their relative inexperience.
Although 00 Nation falted in their opening match today against FaZe, the South American team did their best to keep the top-ranked squad honest, as 00 Nation made the series quite competitive. After the loss, try sat down with Dust2.us' Liam "Slevo" Slevin to chat about the match versus FaZe, 00 Nation's showing in the Play-in, and the benefits of having TACO leading the squad.
Coming in against the number one team in the world, what was the preparation like before that game?
We had one day to prepare for the game against FaZe. We decided to pick Ancient; we expected Inferno as their pick so we were prepared, but we made some mistakes in those maps.
You guys have had some pretty good form coming into this stage of IEM Cologne. What was the mood like in the team coming into the game today?
We are happy about our form, but we know we can do better. We had two weeks of preparation, so it wasn't that much but having these results are huge and it says positive things about the future for us so we are very happy about our results.
We talked to coldzera a couple of days ago and he told us that you are very happy to be playing with latto and dumau. What is it like now for you to get a chance to play with the two of them?
latto and dumau are really good players and good people. I really like to play with them and I've been having a good time. I learn a lot with them as well so we have that young blood and really want to win. We have three young men and two experienced ones so it is a really good combination for a team like this.
As you said there, you have two really experienced players, with coldzera IGLing previously. What is the difference now working with TACO as the IGL and how has it been going for you?
They are two different IGL's. It is better for coldzera to not be IGL so he can focus on his aim and his place. I think it is better now, the structure of the team. We have better role-players in the team and in the past team we didn't have main players for some roles. We found that difficult so cold had to fill those gaps so now it is easier. TACO as an IGL is very good and we are all on the same page.
You also had a big victory over Imperial. What is that like for you as a young player who looked up to those guys when you were coming up through the scene?
It is kinda funny. A few years ago I was watching them winning tournaments, even Cologne. I am really happy and I am really glad that I am able to play with them and versus them and win as well. Nothing else to say, but I am just happy about this.
You will play Liquid next, a North American versus South American brawl. What do you think is most important to focus on in order to beat Liquid?
I don't know, because I haven't watched them lately. I know they have YEKINDAR as a stand-in so they could be having some trouble with some things when you have a stand-in. It is harder to play with a stand-in with some positions and some other things but we will watch their demos and prepare for their pick and our pick.
With 00 Nation now in the lower bracket following their close loss to FaZe, the South American squad will now be preparing for their match against Liquid, set to start tomorrow at 06:30AM.
