The Significance of a Healthy Gaming Lifestyle for World Champions, According to Coach Ducky

AP.Bren’s momentum seems unstoppable in the Mobile Legends: Banf Bang Professional League Philippines (MPL PH) Season 13 regular season. While a lot of fans might think the members are always on fire due to their constant appearance in various tournaments, the team’s head coach, Coach Francis "Ducky" Glindro, explained that this is not the case. According to him, the team has been following a balance between work and life amidst the MPL PH Season 13 run. He also shared how important it is for the players to have time for themselves and that there should be more to life than just playing Mobile Legends competitively. 

Coach Ducky shares secret to becoming World Champions

Through a media interview, Coach Ducky unveiled how the Holy Week became a time for AP Bren members to unwind and recharge their mental batteries. The team has been constantly competing in various tournaments since last year with no signs of stopping anytime soon.

"We're aware of our situation; the boys haven't had any real rest for the past year. So, my dilemma when I was planning their schedule is just something that I'm willing to risk, like giving them the entire Holy Week to themselves," he explained.

Realizing how AP Bren has gone through a hectic schedule since last year, Coach Ducky decided to give the entire Holy Week as a rest day for the players. 

Coming back after a five-day rest, AP Bren was once again in full throttle, winning against ECHO, another team with an undefeated streak in the regular season, allowing the Killer Bees to retain its top position.

"I think it paid off because the mental reset was something that they very much needed. It was so stressful, they were so mentally drained that I felt for the kids, and luckily it paid off, and hopefully in the future, we will have the opportunity to rest," shared Ducky. 

There’s more to life outside esports

In the world of esports, the pervasive narrative of relentless daily grind is commonplace, with certain athletes exceeding recommended hours to refine their skills. While this dedication may yield skill improvement, it can also pose psychological risks.

According to Coach Ducky, a balance between playing hard and rest should be considered. 

"For amateurs, they play for 16 to 24 hours. But when you enter the pro scene, it suddenly shifts. You can't stay up late. It has to be limited to 8 to 10 hours,” he shared. "It's not a good mindset to play for 16 hours. That's crazy."

The AP Bren head coach further added how he keeps an eye out for possible rest days that the players can take as he knows the squad deserves it.

"So it's just a matter of scheduling for me, at least from my perspective as a head coach. That's one of the key points. And as much as possible, if we have free days, I give them to the players so they can actually experience life outside of MLBB," the coach explained.

AP Bren is set to face ONIC PH in the fourth week of the MPL PH Season 13 Regular Season on 13th April at 4:00 PM (PHT). It will be interesting to see if the Beehive can keep its undefeated title in the second half of the regular season.