After seasons of falling short, Team Falcons PH is finally showing signs of a resurgence in MPL Philippines Season 17 — and for the players themselves, the shift isn’t accidental.

Veteran gold laner Stephen “Super Marco” Requitiano said the change starts from within the team’s structure.  

 

The team welcomed back head coach Vrendon “Vren” Lin and Francis “Duckey” Glindro, key figures behind their last championship run, restoring a system that players know and trust. A bolstered coaching staff has not only refined their system but also reignited their belief on the big stage.

 

Photo: MPL Philippines

 

“Siguro unang-una, nadagdagan ‘yung coaching staff namin. Mas tumaas ‘yung confidence namin maglaro,” he shared, pointing to the immediate impact of having more voices guiding the squad.

That renewed confidence has translated into a sharper, more composed Team Falcons side early in the season — a far cry from the team that struggled to find consistency in previous campaigns.

Charles “FlapTzy” Canon echoed the importance of those additions, but emphasized that the hunger inside the team may be the biggest difference this time around.

“Kagaya po nung sinabi ni Marco, isang factor po din po ‘yun (coaching staff). Tapos lahat po kami parang gigil na gigil bumawi,” he said, as the team currently holds a 2-1 record, with its lone loss coming in a tightly contested series against defending champion Team Liquid PH.

The arrival of Salic “Hadji” Imam only amplified that urgency. 

A champion himself, Hadji, who replaced Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel brought with him the same burning desire to return to the top — something that quickly resonated with the rest of the roster.

“Especially nung pagdating ni Hadji kasi same kami, gusto niya na rin daw mag-champion ulit kaya lahat kami tulungan kaming lahat,” Flap added.

Beyond talent and experience, Team Falcons has also found strength in its culture. According to Flap, the team has embraced honesty and accountability, fostering an environment built on trust rather than blame.

“Sobrang transparent namin sa isa’t isa. ‘Di kami nagiging toxic puro (constructive) criticism lang sinasabi namin sa isa’t isa.”

It’s this combination of structure, shared purpose, and maturity that has fueled Team Falcons’ strong start — and if sustained, could mark the long-awaited turnaround for a squad determined to leave its past struggles behind and push toward contention.