KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s hopes of a first M-series world title no longer rest on Selangor Red Giants (SRG) alone.
MPL Malaysia (MPL MY) analyst Fikri Aiman Khidzir, better known as “Rain”, believes Team Rey’s emergence gives the country their best chance of claiming the crown at the M8 World Championship in Istanbul, Turkiye, in January.
SRG edged Team Rey 4-3 in the MPL MY Season 18 Grand Final, but Rain said the runners-up showed enough tactical flexibility to threaten on the world stage.
“This season is our best chance. We have two teams with the biggest hero pools we have ever had representing Malaysia,” Rain said on the Timesport: On the Beat podcast.
“If we are saying Team Rey cannot go into the Grand Final, it is like saying SRG are not good enough for the podium. I think we have a good chance.”
Rain said Team Rey’s ability to deploy different combinations gives coach Doly “SaintDeLucaz” Sihotang options against international opposition, where relying on a single approach can leave a team exposed.
Caster and analyst Amirul Aiman Kamal, commonly known as “Laphel”, also backed Team Rey, saying their coach’s experience would give Malaysia two strong representatives.
“SaintDeLucaz led Team Liquid Indonesia to beat SRG at M6 in 2024 and nearly did it again in this Grand Final. He knows how to get results from teams that have yet to achieve much,” Laphel said.
“He has the experience to prepare Team Rey for the world’s best. I believe in the players, but his coaching will be key.”
Laphel said Team Rey’s performance against SRG could attract stronger practice opponents, giving them valuable exposure to different styles before M8.
However, the panellists warned that qualifying alone would count for little without proper preparation.
MPL MY host Fauzi Ramli, commonly known as “Popojie”, questioned whether Malaysian teams devote enough attention to preparing for international opposition.
“Most teams plan to go international, but they never plan to face opponents from other regions,” Popojie said.
“The gameplay is different, the meta, the patch and everything.”
Rain said focusing too heavily on Indonesia and the Philippines could also lead to other regions being underestimated.
Drawing on his coaching experience, he said less-heralded opponents could prove formidable, particularly when their players have made repeated appearances on the world stage.
For Team Rey, adapting to that level and maintaining communication under pressure will be as important as their tactical options, he said.
The discussion also turned to the domestic atmosphere, with Popojie saying SRG’s repeated triumphs had made tournament outcomes feel too predictable for some supporters.
He said excitement inside the arena had diminished as fans grew accustomed to seeing the same champions.
“The fans already know that, at the end of the day, SRG will be crowned champions again and again. The crowd are just waiting for the trophy-lifting moment,” Popojie said.
Still, Popojie saw encouragement in Team Rey’s supporters, some of whom were in tears after the deciding game.
Their reaction, he said, reflected a belief that Team Rey could beat SRG, with both teams now heading to Istanbul to pursue Malaysia’s first M-series crown.