Rapid On Pioneers' Limitless Potential and Overcoming Narrow Defeats
The Kansas City Pioneers have only been around for a few months, but fans of the RLCS should already be keeping a close eye on this talented roster. In their first week of matches in "The Grid," they almost upset two of the top teams in North America in G2 and Rogue. Jalen "rapid" Parker opened up about some of what will make this team so dangerous despite only recently forming and why he thinks they can beat anybody this season in RLCS X. If fans should take away anything from this interview, it is the passion he shows when describing how confident he is that this team can make some noise. Look out for the Kansas City Pioneers this season - they are sure to be an entertaining team to watch.
What was it like forming a new team with all of the changes happening in the Rocket League scene between roster moves and overall league structure?
I think the new format especially brought on a new wave of roster moves because everyone wanted to try to make the best team possible. I feel like making the roster move that we made at least made us able to form the best roster we possibly could.
Has the new format changed the way you practice throughout the week with the new schedule?
Yeah, it's more playing in pressure moments than it used to be. You'd only get two scrims a day and one tournament, RLCS, on Saturday and that's it for the week. Now its a lot more. You've got the Field, to practice like scrims, you've got the Grid, RLCS, there is a lot more things to do that are in pressure moments.
In your recent "The Grid" matches, you almost upset G2 and Rogue. These are two of the best teams in North America. How have you been able to quickly develop the chemistry to challenge some of the best teams in the world?
We just kind of clicked instantly. It was kind of like, me and Memory. We are a really good duo from RLCS. After the season we became really good, and then he got on eUnited and ended up getting dropped, and we were just able to bring back the chemistry. Once we got back together and we had Beastmode, the mechanical player, it was just kind of easy. I feel like a lot of our stuff is really with natural skill cause we are just as good as any team individually, and it is more about mentality and teamwork and chemistry and stuff like that that's going to hinder us that we are just getting better at every day.
I feel like we could beat anyone on any day as long as we are playing our game.
Were there any specific parts of your play as a team that you will look to focus on after the series against G2 and Rogue?
Mentality. How we go into the match.
Are there any specific teams you are looking forward to playing against this season?
Honestly, anyone. I feel like we could beat anyone on any day as long as we are playing our game. So really anyone, any team.
Click to enlargeWhat made you want to sign with the Kansas City Pioneers?
Talking with them, every single time we talked with them, it went really well, and they seemed like the most genuine org that we talked to. We talked to many orgs, and they were probably the only org that gave us that caring vibe and that it is not just a business. We mean more to them than just a business. You know, like just "Okay, you guys - go win." It is more like "we want you guys to succeed, and we will help you guys succeed."
Landon "BeastMode" Konerman is fifteen and has already drawn a lot of attention from his performance against G2 and Rogue. You and Sebastian "Sea-Bass" Becerra have been playing at an elite level for a while. Do you think this mix of youth and experience will be beneficial as you develop as a team?
Yeah, I think his mechanical ability, especially being young, he has so much more he can learn. And him being fifteen, you know, usually young guns don't have the smarts in the game, but he has shown that he is pretty smart, especially for how young he is.
With this new format, the season will be longer before the World Championship. What keeps you motivated over such a long season to consistently improve and stay focused?
What keeps us so motivated is that we know how good we can be. I think when you know how good you can be, it just keeps you motivated to keep improving because you can see the end result if you just keep grinding. I think that is what is most important and what makes me more motivated than ever. Especially with this long season is that us three, we all know how good we can be.
The Kansas City Pioneers compete this week in RLCS X The Grid (NA).
Images via WorldGaming Network
