Interview with Tokio from Geltek Cyber Team: “I’d rate our current level of play a 6 out of 10”
Last weekend marked the end of the 11th season of the Lady MVP women’s series—Geltek Cyber Team won the tournament for the second time in a row, and Karolina “Tokio” Pavlova was named the best player. After the event, we spoke with the gold laner: she talked about the team’s current form and the most effective heroes in the gold lane.
Hi! First off, congratulations on your victory at Lady MVP Season 11. Tell us about your emotions and impressions: does this title feel any easier to accept after your triumph on the international stage and your previous victories?
Hi, thanks! Actually, every victory brings our team excitement and joy, but victories on the international stage are in a league of their own.
What can you say about the level of play, your opponents, and your own form? Has the level of competition changed at all compared to the spring?
I’d rate our current level of play at a 6 out of 10. Compared to the spring, I think we’ve just taken a breather and relaxed a bit. That said, I’m pleasantly surprised by the Dumplings team—they’re already consistently securing top spots in tournaments.
During the tournament, you lost a map to Kaizen, lost to Rising Rage in the upper bracket—those were tough matches. How difficult was this victory overall?
We don’t see anything serious or critical in the losses we suffered during the tournament, because we get to know our opponents better, plus we test out drafts. Winning Lady MVP Season 11 came easily to us; we knew we’d make it even if we had to go through the lower bracket.
Before the final, you lost twice in a row to your main regional rivals from Rising Rage: at Valkyrie Clash and in the upper bracket. What did you manage to change before the grand final, and what allowed you to secure such a convincing victory?
At Valkyrie Clash, we were mentally affected by our loss to the eventual tournament champions; we couldn’t pull ourselves together overnight. As for Lady MVP, the loss in the upper bracket didn’t mean anything to us; we gathered intel on our opponents, adjusted our drafts, and won.
You were named MVP at the conclusion of Lady MVP Season 11. How much do you agree with that, and how do you generally feel about such individual awards?
Of course, I’m very pleased that I was singled out as the best player, but this is a team achievement. If it weren’t for my team, I wouldn’t have shone. So obviously, the team did the heavy lifting! An achievement like this boosts my self-confidence and motivates me to grow even more.
Let’s talk a little about the meta. What do you think of the new map modifiers: do you like them, what are your impressions, and what do you like the most?
I really like the new map modifiers; I’d especially highlight the turtle and the gold towers: maps like these don’t forgive mistakes and either increase your lead or widen the gap.
In recent matches, you’ve been playing Clint, Obsidian, and Moskov a lot. Would you say these are the best Gold-tier heroes in the current meta? And if you were to make a list of the best, who else would you add?
As for Obsidian and Clint, yes, they’re the best heroes for the Gold lane in the current meta—and we pick Moscow because many players don’t know how to counter him in the late game, though they don’t always let him reach the late game, haha. I’d also add Brody and Bruno to the list of the best, since the current meta favors fast heroes, and you won’t always be able to farm out a “Trinity.”
Among those who’ve made it into the meta, Chichi also stands out. In your opinion, how effective can these heroes be? And are there any other niche heroes who are underrated in esports or in ranked play?
I think Chichi, just like Bruno, is very strong right now; these two heroes get into the game quickly. I’d also add Freya and Pakito.
Getting back to esports, your schedule isn’t exactly easy: after the summer break, you have a lot of events and tournaments, and you spend a lot of time at boot camp. How difficult is it for you to adjust to this pace, considering that before, the women’s team had at most two or three tournaments a year?
The team has had a busy year full of events, but the large number of women’s tournaments certainly speaks to the growth of our region.
Some players find it hard to spend long stretches of time at boot camp. How much time do you spend together, and how difficult (or, conversely, how easy) is that for you?
Despite the long boot camp, we enjoy living under the same roof. Our cook makes delicious meals, and the girls and I film TikToks, play Prime matches, and just gossip over a cup of tea.
Tell us about the team’s future plans: you’ll have at least one more Lady MVP season before the end of the year, and maybe other tournaments. What’s the overall plan for the rest of 2026 in MLBB for you and the team?
Our plans are to win every tournament, shoot TikTok videos, and stream as a team.
Thank you so much for the interview! As always, feel free to share a message and your best wishes to the fans and readers at the end.
Thank you to our organization for providing the conditions that allow us to grow as a professional team, to the organizers of the Lady MVP tournament, and to the fans of Geltek Cyber Team. A special thank you to my family and friends. Thank you for your support!
In the recent Lady MVP Season 11, Geltek Cyber Team took first place, defeating Rising Rage 3-1 in the final. Prior to that, the Geltek roster placed third in SURGE Valkyrie Clash Season 2.
