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"We were looking for a less vocal ADC" BDS Adam speaks on Week 2 performance and new ADC Ice
Team BDS's Top Laner Adam "Adam" Maanane sat down with Strafe Esports after their Week 2 run to speak on the team's performance so far in Spring, their expectations for the rest of the Split, as well as his growth as a Top Laner within the LEC over the years.
[Interviewer] First of all, I just wanted to check and see how are you doing?
I’m fine […] I mean, we still ended up like 2-1 this week so, it’s not too bad right? Nothing too dramatic, even though it’s still a bit sad that we lost today but happens.
[Interviewer] First of all, I just wanted to touch a little bit on the match itself. Starting with, were you happy with the direction of the draft heading into this game.
Yeah, I mean, I […] I think we had like a pretty solid comp. We had like […] like an entire, you know, front-to-back comp against their full engage comp, and I just think we mis-executed like really, really hard with our comp. So, that’s a bit unfortunate, but of course, I think we’re going to review everything and find out why we played so bad today and come back even stronger.
[Interviewer] In terms of yourself personally, I also wanted to ask, you’ve played against Wunder for a number of years. What’s your experience been like, laning against him?
Well, I’ve always believed that, you know, every time I was facing Wunder, you know, I’ve always had some […] I’ve always had like, really good laning phases. I was always put into like a good spot either by me or by the help with my teammates. So, today was a bit like, special, because he got to play like TF into K’Sante matchup, which is kind of unplayable for K’Sante actually. Yeah, I didn’t expect him to play TF so, I mean, now, good to know, right? But yeah, overall, I think he’s pretty decent top laner still, right? And always good to play against him.
[Interviewer] Also, I wanted to ask you as well, in terms of just the season as well, do you have any sort of expectations for BDS for the rest of the season? Obviously you guys are aiming for the top but do you have any personal expectations for yourself?
Well, my personal expectations are like everyone’s expectations in the organization. We want to go MSI, and we still want to go to Worlds. We want to win a split as well. So, we have some objectives that are clear for everyone in mind, and we’re trying to reach all of those goals.
[Interviewer] On a more personal note, there was a bit of unexpected news at the end of the Winter Playoffs, where you were not able to play in the semifinals. So, coming into Spring, has there been a mentality shift in yourself, has it made you more driven?
Not really, I mean, what happened in Winter […] it was initially supposed to be like between BDS and me right? But unfortunately, it got like exposed on social media. The situation between BDS and me were like already planned, we had already found solutions so that it doesn’t happen again. And yeah, but there wasn’t like a real issues because everything was already settled you know?
[Interviewer] Glad to hear. Ok then, speaking on the dynamics of the team, the core of this roster has been together since, I believe, late 2022 except for Ice. So, how is the dynamics of the team, how’s the communication, what’s the vibes like on the team?
Well, actually you know, because we still formed a four core from last year, we just got Ice this year, you know. So, we kept like the good habits that we had last year and tried to implement like some new stuff and try to adapt as well to Ice’s gameplay. And naturally you know, there’s dynamic. Ice is our hyper-carry, we like to play around him, etc. So, in general you know, we always like when he, when he’s not behind, but we also like kind, you know, volatile team because we can play heavily into top lane, into mid, into bot, but it kind of depends on the meta and how we view each individual.
[Interviewer] Speaking of Ice as well, has there been a dramatic shift between when you had Cronie and now, when you have Ice? Has there been a shift in the dynamics of how you guys approach preparations?
No, not really. Coming up into this year, we were looking like for a profile kind of like Ice, you know, for AD Carry. He’s really respecting, everything that we were looking for. And so naturally we didn’t have like an insane new dynamic because even last year, you know, we liked to play a lot around bot always, and this year, I would say it’s kind of the same. So, overall, our gameplay hasn’t changed that much.
[Interviewer] I see. So, you were looking for a sort of younger AD Carry to take Crownie’s place? Is that what I’m getting from you?
No, not at all. It was just more that, like we were looking for less vocal, I would say, less vocal ADC. So, we got Ice. He’s like Korean, he doesn’t really speak good English. But he has like really good mechanics, and we were looking for, for this kind of, you know, profile. So after like the whole off-season, Ice was the one that BDS chose in the end. And then we had like to adapt with him as a player, the coaching staff as well had to adapt with this new personality. And overall, I think everything is going pretty great.
[Interviewer] You yourself have been playing in the LEC for quite a while now. Do you have any daily routines that go through to keep yourself in top form?
Not really to be honest. I think I just spam the game. I’m always as passionate as before, as the first day I touched this game. So, I just try really, really hard to maintain my level. I just keep playing the game, keep trying to think what I could do to improve even more, you know?
[Interviewer] And then for you personally in the top lane, are you happy with the current champion pool that’s meta in official games?
Yeah, I mean I think like the meta in top is, you know, I would say that there’s nothing like, really insane. So, that means when there’s no like hyper power pick, the meta becomes like really open and so you can have a large variety of champions that you can play and everything that is related to that, I think I like, because I like to expand my champion pool, I like to have sneaky picks sometimes. So, I think I will enjoy this year.
[Interviewer] Speaking of sneaky picks, I have yet to see you play TF in top lane this season. Is this something that we can expect from you, or is this sort of a bit outside of your wheelhouse?
I mean, who knows? (smiling)You know, I mean, I like this champion, but who knows if I will get the chance to play him. Maybe, maybe not.
[Interviewer] Ok, last year, you obviously popularised sort of the four champs, GODS… outside of those champions, is there a champion that’s one of your favorites that you haven’t gotten a chance to play on-stage yet?
Not really, I would say these four champions are like my heart, you know, my champions at heart. So, the fact that I am able to like to pull them on competitive is already a really good thing for me. But apart from them, apart from them, I don’t think I have any champion that, you know, enters the same filter of champion.
[Interviewer] Domestically, how would you rate yourself as a top laner? Would you put yourself among the top 2, top 3, top laner in the LEC?
Yeah, by far. But I don’t think it’s also just from this year. I think I’ve always like, considered myself one of the best performing top laners, you know? From my splits on Fnatic to even today. I’ve always believed that yeah, I was one of the best and I, I just need to keep proving right? And this is what I work for as well.
[Interviewer] I see. And then in domestic terms, do you have a top laner that is your kryptonite? Where it’s always a hard match up against them?
Like I don’t have any kryptonite. Not in EU, no.
[Interviewer] What about internationally? Do you have any sort of top laner that you’ve kind of had a bit of problems laning against?
I mean, I don’t have, you know, that much practice internationally. Unfortunately, I just got to play like a Best-of-3 against DAMWON last Worlds. And Canna was like really, really, really good. But I need more experience internationally to be ale to say that.
[Interviewer] Speaking internationally as well, how would you rate the current international viability, the competitiveness of this current BDS roster?
Oh, realistically talking, it would be a bit delusional to say that if we were to go to MSI, we would win it all, but I think it’s more of a good way for us to improve a lot, and to learn from the best. And if we can get far, we will try our best. Otherwise we will just learn.
[Interviewer] And then next week, your first opening match is going to be against Fnatic. Do you have any thoughts heading into that game?
No, I think it’s going to be a good test because I mean, this week was not the best for us I would say - in practice. Unfortunately the score 2-1 reflects the issues we had. So, I’m really looking forward to Fnatic, because we’ll try to work a lot on what we did wrong this week. And the first match against Fnatic is going to be a good test to prove ourselves and yeah, I think it’s going to be interesting.
BDS will play today against MAD Lions KOI, currently sitting with a 4-3 record after victory against Fnatic last night. For the lates updates on the LEC, follow the official Twitter/X here.
Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
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