“This season is truly special for us”: an interview with Tienzy about M8, the coaching change, and APEX47’s return
Aurora Gaming’s Mobile Legends jungler: Bang Bang’s Sidar “Tienzy” Menteshe commented on Furkan “APEX47” Akbulut’s return to the roster and the coaching change in an interview with OFFSTAGE at the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2026.
Hi, congratulations on the win! Can you share your thoughts on the match against Team Liquid?
We’ve played against Team Liquid many times in previous tournaments, so we didn’t feel any pressure. We stayed calm, just played our game, and won.
In this match, you picked Raphael—not the most popular choice. As a jungler, how comfortable were you playing with this hero in the duo lane?
I felt very comfortable. Rafael is a support hero who provides speed, helps you survive in tough situations, and saves the day at certain moments. Thanks to that, it was easier for me to adapt to the game, and I felt confident.
In other esports disciplines, the rivalry between Turkey and the CIS is often considered a major one. How do you view this in MLBB? Are matches against Team Spirit something special for you?
No, it doesn’t hold any special significance for us. The EECA region is closer to us, and we can play against them from Turkey—whereas playing against Asian teams is much more difficult due to the distance. So overall, we feel comfortable in matches against teams from the EECA.
APEX47 recently returned from his role as an analyst and is once again a player, serving as a substitute on your team. What tasks does he perform, and how does he help Aurora?
He had to return to the roster because we didn’t have a substitute player—but he still helps us as an analyst. APEX47 helps address our weaknesses, analyzes scrims, works with statistics, and participates in draft preparation. It’s hard to overstate his importance to the team.
You also recently changed head coaches—Midnight is now working with the team. What has changed in your strategies and playstyle?
Our playstyle hasn’t changed much. We still prefer an aggressive approach and like to take risks. Plus, we’ve worked with Midnight before, so we know each other well. He understands our style, and we understand his approach, so the transition went very smoothly.
And one last question. Would you say this season is special for you, considering that the M8 finals will be held in Istanbul? How popular is MLBB in Turkey right now, and could hosting the tournament further boost interest in the game?
Yes, this season is truly special for us. The fact that the M8 finals will be held in Turkey only gives us extra motivation as we prepare for this tournament.
As for MLBB’s popularity, the game’s audience in Turkey is already growing steadily. We’re seeing more and more players and fans—and I think the M8 in Istanbul will further boost interest in the game in our country.
Aurora Gaming is currently competing in the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2026. The team won its opening match against Team Liquid PH and will next face ONIC for a spot in the playoffs. The tournament’s prize pool is $3,025,000.
