Fire Base: A Dream Come True
Esports by INQUIRER.Net had the privilege of interviewing Keith B. Pace, who is the captain of TNC Pro Team.
TNC Pro Team, hailing from Butuan, has qualified for the CrossFire Stars 2015 Philippine National Finals after winning the Cagayan de Oro qualifier back in May 2015.
Here are his thoughts on his team’s standing, the feeling of being a top-tier team and the experiences that come with it!
Earl “FallenRave00” Guevarra: Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Keith Pace: I am Keith B. Pace, the team captain of TNC Pro Team, 26 years of age. I am playing as an entry fragger for the team.
FallenRave00: What do you feel about this tournament?
Keith: It has been good and exciting, you get amazed at big events like this, which of course can be compared to the ones that we have in China or in Korea…and even though we may not be able to get the PH slot, then at least we get to experience big events like this!
On the dream
FallenRave00: How many years have you been playing CrossFire? Haveyou been playing other first-person shooter (FPS) titles back then?
Keith: I have been playing since the beginning of the title in 2009. We have changed our roster only once: Our 1st roster lasted for 4 years, while this new roster lasted for 2 years.
I did not play any other FPS titles besides this game!
FallenRave00: Please state a normal day in the life of Keith B. Pace.
Keith: In the mornings, I have my breakfast, then I work as a staff member for GameClub.
However, since the start of the tournament, I have stopped working for them to focus on my duties as captain of the team. Then, we go to lunch, go home at night and sleep! So basically, my routine is work-home-and of course my baby!
FallenRave00: Why did you love CrossFire?
Keith: If you think about the graphics and physics in comparison to other FPS titles, CrossFire has generally been considered as smooth, which is important if you think about the fact that the metagame is aim-based.
Feelings
FallenRave00: What did you feel when you won against Pacific.Wara and almost beaten Pacific.Macta?
Keith: We thought that it was a fluke – and we are generally happy that we were able to beat Wara on their home soil!
We did not expect that we would be able to take nine rounds off Macta, which we did without much practice considering that we are from Butuan!
We are happy and thankful that we were able to do it overall.
FallenRave00: How were you able to do it?
Keith: I guess the secret for us is that we had very good trust in each other’s moves and timings and that we had some very good team chemistry with each other.
FallenRave00: What do you think about the metagame?
Keith: Strategy and aim, I guess, a combination of them.
Adaptation is important in this game. If you do not adapt, then you’ll have a hard time against the opposition, I guess.
Future prospects
FallenRave00: After CFS 2015, what do you plan to do in the future?
Keith: For now, as a captain of TNC Pro Team, this is my last time playing because you know that I am working for GameClub already – so I need to focus on my job.
As for my friends, I wish them all the luck and I hope that they can do well both in and out of the game!
FallenRave00: What do you aim for this tournament? Do you think you can get to the upper bracket finals?
Keith: Maybe, we can do it. We know that we are having a hard time, but we will make sure that they will have to climb a mountain before they can even beat us!
The floor is yours!
Keith: I want to thank TnC.com, especially Sir Eric, as well as our clanmates for their unwavering belief in our dreams!
To our family who are always supported us in every way possible,
To our friends who always believed that we can do it (and hopingly) get the chance to represent our country!
I guess that is all!
Keith and company did end up getting third place after being beaten by Pacific.Wara in the lower bracket finals with a scoreline of 10-6 on Ankara.
However, if anything, they have proved that they can take on the best that the Philippine CrossFire scene can offer after beating Pacific.Wara in the group stage of the tournament, as well as bringing Pacific.Macta to their very limit by losing narrowly with a score of 10-9 in favor of the Manila-based team.
Until next time!
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