NAVI head coach Vasilis "TheRock" Voltis spoke candidly in an interview about the team's stagnation in the current split, the prospects of young player Rhilech, and the need for drastic changes in their approach to the practice process.
Despite having good drafts and a proper understanding of the game, NAVI systematically faces execution issues, especially during team fights. According to the coach, the decision to keep the roster unchanged for the summer split was a calculated risk that, unfortunately, did not pay off. The expectation that the players would gel and reach a new level of comfort did not work out.
TheRock stated that the team has currently hit its limit and stopped developing. After two relatively successful splits, the squad is frankly "drowning" this summer. The coach evaluates their chances of reaching the top 4 before the playoffs as close to zero, but emphasizes: to win overall, you need to be able to beat any opponent, regardless of the tournament bracket.
A bright spot for the mentor is Rhilech's progress. TheRock openly calls him a foundation around which he wants to build the game in the future.
- Learning characteristics: Although the player picks up new concepts somewhat slower than others, he does so as accurately as possible. After a few months, he demonstrates the perfect integration of what he has learned into practice.
- Development vector: The coach is convinced that Rhilech hasn't hit his ceiling yet. To maximize his potential, he needs the presence of experienced veteran players on the roster who would complement the coach's guidance.
TheRock paid special attention to the issue of scrim quality. He criticized the approach of many teams that don't take practice seriously or give up early after a poor start. The coach explained his philosophy regarding effective preparation using an example from traditional sports:
That is why the coach plans to drastically change the practice atmosphere next year:
- Focus on Practice Tool: More efficient use of practice tools to create specific in-game scenarios and practice macro decisions.
- Targeted scrims: Finding partners with a similar vision to practice specific phases of the game (early game, team fights).
- Motivation system: Creating a sort of gamified reward system (jokingly called "dopamine-based"), where players will receive points and rewards for completing goals in practice.
TheRock's candor once again highlights the systemic issue with the quality of scrims in the professional scene. Whether NAVI's experiments with a new approach to practice will become a successful precedent for the entire league will be seen next competitive year.
As a reminder: A Step Towards Worlds: Team Vitality Jungler Lyncas on the Season's Goal, Coaches, and the Future