‘Just a bonus’: BOOM Daniii stays grounded despite claiming PKL Finals MVP
MANILA — John Phillex “Daniii” Bulanadi did not expect to walk away with the Finals MVP award, but the recognition became an added achievement following BOOM Esports’ championship run in the Philippines Kings League Grand Finals.
Bualandi described the award as a bonus, saying that becoming a professional player was already a dream once hoped to fulfill. Despite seeing other players receive the same recognition, he admitted that winning the award was never part of his personal goals.
“Hindi namin iniisip ‘yung kung sino mag-e-MVP. Iniisip namin kung ano ‘yung papakita namin as a team,” he said.
Behind their championship finish, however, the team had to navigate several changes to its lineup and coaching staff.
The addition of Chammy Paul Asignado “Chammy1” Nazarrea, Miguel “Miggie” Klarenz Banaag’s transition to the Roamer role and the shift from a Chinese coach to a Filipino mentor presented challenges as the squad as the squad worked to establish its new setup.
Bualandi credited their close relationship outside the game for helping them overcome these adjustments, saying their bond eventually became an advantage inside the game.
“Sobrang close namin outside the game, which is ‘yung in-game ngayon parang ang dali na lang sa’min kasi parang bonus na lang ‘yon lahat kasi ang saya namin,” he added.
Daniii highlighted that their biggest adjustment in the playoffs came from facing JGames Esports (JGE), a team they hadn’t encountered earlier in their playoff campaign.
JGE’s aggressive playstyle caught them off guard at times, teaching the team the importance of adapting quickly to unfamiliar situations on the battlefield.
“Sa laban sa JGames kasi hindi namin nakalaban ‘yung JGames sa playoffs, which is ‘yon ‘yung isang bagay na medyo nanibago kami. So parang may mga times na sobrang aggressive nila kaya hindi namin na-expect na maganda [rin] talaga ‘yung pinapakita nila,” Daniii said.
Additionally, the two-time champions learned that sticking to a proven and tested foundation works best under pressure, rather than making drastic changes to their routine or training rituals. They relied on their established habits to maintain their dominance and consistency.
BOOM’s approach for upcoming international tournaments like Honor of Kings Nation Clash (KNC) and Honor of Kings International Clash (KIC) will center on their gameplay’s cleanliness and in-game discipline.
According to Bulanadi, unlike regional play in the PKL, where teams can still recover easily from mistakes, international competition severely punishes minor errors. Their preparation will mainly focus on polishing their play and minimizing avoidable slips during matches.
The Philippine representatives plan to maintain their intensity and hunger without becoming complacent after winning their second straight PKL title.
“This time mas lalo naming hihigitan kasi magre-represent kami ng country. ‘Yon ‘yung pinaka-goal namin na parang ipalabas na ‘yung Pinas malakas talaga sa MOBA,” he said.
BOOM Esports looks forward to clashing with Malaysia representatives, Aurora Gaming, as they have a very similar playstyle.
Daniii is confident in their familiarity with Aurora’s strategies, believing that they have a high chance of beating them when they officially meet in the international tournament.
“Lagi sila naming nakaka-scrim eh, so parang kaya namin ata sila,” he added.