Josedeodo on his new mindset: "Joining TLAW changed my mentality — the having fun [way], it started here"
Photo Credit: Riot Games
A 6-0 on the scoreboard doesn't tell the story of how close some games got. Team Liquid pushed T1 hard in the play-in final before bowing out of MSI, and for Joel "Josedeodo" Villegas — playing some of the best League of his career — the elimination came with more pride than regret. RFT.GG caught up with the jungler right after, on the smite battles, learning to have fun on the international stage, and the second pro player’s life he found at Team Liquid.
How are you feeling?
I don't feel that bad, honestly. I feel kind of annoyed that we didn't take a game or two. Series one and series two, I think we could have taken a game. was way closer because our fights were easier and we also outscale them. I was like, no way we lose this game. And then we lost. And I was like, I guess they just find the angles, you know.
The way he [Oner] smites is very smart. In NA you don't see many people doing the clutch moments that much, so I was kind of surprised. Even game one he smited with 1 HP. He waits for the last second — it's very impressive. On the first series I had a bad sleep, so I thought maybe it was because I sleeped badly that he won everything. But no, I think he just goes smart based on his experience. He's probably been through a lot of clutch moments like this, so it makes sense.
You've had inspired moments in the LCS final too on the 50/50 smite. That makes him outsmiting you even more impressive.
Yeah.
You beat EU strongly yesterday and went really close today. Do you leave this tournament with no regrets?
I do have one regret, but it's unrelated to the game — I wanted to trade jerseys with Faker, but T1 didn't want to. They said they were busy. Besides that, we can't be mad about losing to T1. We were joking about it — there's no shame in losing to T1.
There'd be shame in losing to KC or DCG, you know.
So the only shame is just not taking one or two games. But in the end, we should be happy with the tournament and just focus on the next split.
What was the difference factor today, especially in the games where you were close?
Our biggest difference was how we play side lanes. Today we learned from our mistakes in the first series against them — Quid was cheating a lot of waves and creating a lot of space for us to get better angles. That was really good and that's why the games felt closer. In game two of the first series, it was like we're winning but it doesn't feel like we're winning — it feels like they still pressure us. This series, I feel like we pressured them into mistakes, and that's something we were missing in LYON series. So I was pretty happy with that improvement. Maybe today wasn't enough, but next time I'm sure it'll make a difference if we keep learning.
Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Everyone fell on KC for letting you play Lee Sin yesterday. You left it open today but didn't play it. Are you just that good that you know how to put it in uncomfortable spots?
I'm pretty sure Oner also knew that wasn't the best Lee Sin spot, because Rumble-Nocturne is a hard combo — you need to be able to dribble them aggressively because their combo is very fast, and with Lee Sin you kind of want to ping-pong fights. So I'm pretty sure he wasn't very comfortable playing it, and I wouldn't be comfortable either on that stage. Whenever I see a so-so angle, I think — if the teams are good, they'll punish you. And I think we did, sort of. Sure, they win the game, but I'm pretty sure the early wasn't easy for them. It's not like I'm mad about him taking it. Of course I'd like to play it, but I was thinking this isn't the right spot. So if he wants to take it, just take it.
What are you taking back from this tournament in terms of learnings?
Experience-wise — my style of having fun is something I never tried at an international. So when I was playing these games, I was having a good time, enjoying the stage, enjoying being with the team.
It was the first time? The other times you didn't feel that?
The other times I'd pressure myself to just win, and when we lost I'd be so sad. But today, I feel like I had a really good international overall even if we lost. And I'm happy that it works at an international — that's something I'll keep in mind.
Maybe having fun was not the answer before, and now I think it's the correct answer.
So I'll just keep doing it and see how far I can go with it.
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How do you explain that you're managing to have fun now, while it wasn’t the case before?
I think it comes from being young and feeling pressured. When I started playing esports I was thinking the same way I did when I was younger playing sports.
And at one point this year, I thought to myself — I started playing League for fun. I don't know when it changed. That's what I do and what I enjoy doing.
So I just went through that, and getting to know myself better is enjoyable.
Have you been having fun since the start of the year, or specifically this tournament?
Throughout the tournaments there are stressful moments, because it's a team game and sometimes the team is stressed, we're doing badly or losing or something's going wrong. So of course you can't have fun 99% of the time — there are points where you won't have fun and you have to find your way through. That's the fun part.
Yeon and Quid told me teamfights and setups were your biggest room for improvement. Today you went toe to toe with one of the best teams at it. Are you happy with your progress there?
I'd say so, because that's the stuff you normally improve during the split. For us to come to this tournament without having that improvement and then learn it through playing the series — this team really pushed us to improve that much in just two series. So we should be happy with how we improved our setup. But it's not enough — that's something we have to work towards next split. The difference is they do it so much, they have the experience of doing it so many times that they're so good at it. That's why they beat us today. Even when they flipped the Baron in game one, I was so surprised — they were so confident doing it. They just get it, and they know it's going to be 50/50 or 60/40 because they've tried it so much that they know how it'll turn out.
Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
A lot of people will remember this tournament as a statement from you individually. Are you proud of what you've shown?
Yeah. Well, I'm kind of old, you know. People tend to think that when you're old you become washed. So for me it's like — I can keep top-tier mechanically. Throughout my career I realized the thing I was missing most was concepts. With this team I've been learning a lot of concepts and details I could improve on, and that's what makes me look better. That's why I'm proud of working with TLAW — my teammates and coaches really helped me improve. I don't think it's just me doing it alone, it's mostly team gap. So I'll keep working and see how far I can go.
Do you feel like you’ve found a new lease of life here at TLAW, after playing in LATAM for so many years earlier?
Yeah, I'd say so.
It changed my mentality too — the having fun, it sort of started here really.
Last year I was doing it, but the last split didn't go so well, so I was doubting. But now that it's going well, it's like — maybe it works that way. Maybe I just need to be surrounded by a better environment where I can work better. And have fun. That's the most important. So yeah, it kind of makes sense to call it a second life.
Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Do you believe the West — G2 and LYON — has a shot at making something happen against the LCK and LPL?
I think LYON is better than us — they probably improved more. G2 and LYON are pretty similar teams, I'd say. I've never scrimmed against G2, but from what I've seen it looks that way. I do think they have a chance against the LCK teams. I don't think the game nowadays is that hard to play — as long as you do the basics and play the fights well, you can win. And I'm pretty sure players like Caps, or Saint, can really clutch up, have good moments, and take wins from LCK and LPL. I wouldn't be surprised.
It's all about mentality, and those types of players have the mentality to win. I'm sure they'll do well.
Any last words for the fans?
Thank you everyone for cheering in for us. I'm excited for the next split and we'll do better on the next one.
