The Humber Esports Valorant team is on the road for its final tournament of the semester at St. Clair College.
After the team's loss in the NACE league, the players see this tournament as a chance to redeem themselves and show they can put up a strong fight against their competition.
Humber Esports Valorant team captain Mohid Ali said that while the loss did make the team feel a bit of a setback, it fuelled their determination to bounce back stronger.
“We know we have the potential, and we’ve used that loss as motivation to not let it define us,” he said. “It’s about learning from the past and moving forward with even more hunger to succeed.”
Humber Esports Valorant team player Arthur Gaudio said, despite the team's loss, he felt even more motivated to perform at his peak.
“Everyone played super well even though we ended up losing, that motivated me and my teammates to give 110 per cent in this tournament,” he said.
Humber Esports Valorant team player Tia Kelsey, who is competing for the final time, said they had a pretty good chance to qualify for playoffs in the NACE league, but a few mistakes were made.
“We were all kind of crushed because of it, but we’ve been trying to keep our spirits up because now we know we’re more prepared for the next tournament, and we saw how far we got in the last one,” she said.
In the last do-or-die match in the NACE league, Humber Esports commentator Chelsea Tang said it was stressful, as this match alone determined whether they would make it to the playoffs.
The team is aware of the long trip ahead of them when heading towards the tournament, as they now prepare for the journey.
Ali said the trip definitely requires a lot of mental preparation, but it’s also an opportunity for the team to bond.
“The time on the road can help us regroup, refocus, and talk through strategies before the game,” he said. “It’s all about staying physically and mentally ready for the challenge.”
Kelsey said she is excited for the long trip as the whole team, along with Humber Esports health and wellness coach Lanvy Nguyen and Humber Esports photographer Nitik Singhal, will be joining as well.
Nguyen plans to cook meals for the team during the trip to supply them with the nutrients they need, as well as handle other health concerns.
“Health factors I need to stay aware of and treat are players panicking or feeling very stressed, and being aware of when players may get a wrist injury,” she said. “The players should also prepare themselves for the long ride ahead of them.”
Nguyen said she also plans to help the team go over exercises such as hand stretches and stress management to be sure players achieve peak performance.
The team is also looking for any way to improve upon their previous performance to make their final matches against their opponents the strongest.
Ali said he wishes the team could’ve been more consistent with their execution especially in high-pressure situations.
“We had the skills and the drive, but at times we lacked the discipline and focus to close out games or make those critical adjustments when needed,” he said. “It would have been great if we could’ve kept that mental edge sharper throughout the season.”
Tang said that for their final tournament, they should learn to be calmer and composed to deal with stressful situations.
“I’ve seen it in their games, individually, they are good, but when it’s clutch time, that’s where the nerves are higher and their gameplay falls apart,” she said. “I think what they should do for their next tournament is be able to breathe, relax, and just play as a team.”
Gaudio said when it came to his performance it was a little below what he was expecting from himself.
“Even though I’ve improved a lot throughout the season, I was expecting more from me,” he said.
However, he also said the team needs to be more consistent with its rosters.
“Main thing we need is a committed five-player roster. It’s been changing through the season, and I ended up changing roles because of that,” he said.
Since this is the final tournament for the current team this semester, and teams are likely to be changed next semester, they want to redeem themselves and make their last memories playing together one grand victorious finale.
Ali said he knows the team has a lot to prove, and the whole team is focused on ending the semester on a high note.
“The last game is a chance to show how far we’ve come and to leave it all on the field, knowing we gave everything we had,” he said.
As the team is focused on the final matches of the semester, they are also focused on the new team members for the future.
Gaudio said he hopes to see a very committed and focused group of players to avoid the constant roster changes and see the team win.
Ali said he hopes to see new players who are not only skilled but also have the right mentality.
“We need people who are ready to put in the work, who can adapt quickly to our play style and who are committed to the team’s success,” he said. “Strong communication and chemistry will be key, so I hope the new players bring that energy and fit in well with our team culture.”
