This CODM Coach is the architect of two CGI 2022 playoff teams
Leading and managing a team to a Major like the CODM Garena Invitational is not an easy feat. Bringing that team to the playoffs after facing the best teams from other regions is even more impressive. To do both things simultaneously on two different teams is on a whole different level.
That distinction belongs to Mark Alexis “Olea” Olea, the head coach of M420 LowKings and Ultimate Divinus in the CODM Garena Invitational 2022 playoffs. The 23-year-old is by far the only coach to have led two teams into this deep of a run. And by doing so, he is looking to go all the way.
Mark Alexis “Coach Olea” Olea
“I’m really happy [about this]. I had a hard time believing that both teams qualified for CGI and adding the fact that both ends are titled as a PH representative, it’s really a big achievement for me as I am not really a known coach,” he said.
Coach Olea, as his players call him, formerly coached perennial CODM PH title contender PDR Esports. However due to the team’s disbandment a few months back, he was left without a team. That stayed true for a couple of months until M420 and Ultimate, in need of an internal strategist, swooped in and attained his services.
“The trust factor of them believing that I can bring them up here right where they are now in the big stages is what I am really happy about. Ever since they got me in they always made me feel way until now,” he shared.
Coach Olea and M420 LowKings
Now that the dust has settled, Coach Olea successfully brought the LowKings and Divinus into the CGI playoffs in the pros’ and girls’ divisions respectively. He now shares preparations in-game and off-game that allowed them to reach this point.
“We do mappings so we can try and calibrate the strategies and find the loopholes that we need to touch upon before the initial game day starts.”
He also mentions the coaching intricacies he deals with the team, as well as the schedules that he assigns each of his players.
“Take time and read the plays of your possible opponents, check out which maps they are good at or vice versa then conclude which choice has the best odds for your end to win it out. Time management is a very important skill to have, balancing scrimmages, mappings, academics and personal time is what I always remind my players to know,” he said.
Coach Olea and Ultimate Divinus (Photo credits to Neil Barrientos)
Lastly, Coach Olea reveals some lessons to be a successful coach and offers a piece of advice on how to improve on work on one’s craft.
“You need to learn the team you are handling, know what kind of players you are dealing with. As the coach, the players are my playing cards and it’s my duty to figure out what their cards can offer, knowing where they excel and lack is really important. And then lastly the most important one is the discipline in every aspect whether it would be in or outside of the game,” he said in an ending statement.
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Watch Coach Olea’s M420 LowKings and Ultimate Divinus in CODM Garena Invitational’s playoffs starting today, April 1 through 3. Games can be watched live on Garena CODM’s live stream on Facebook and YouTube.
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