Ledion Dreamz Steel Series is a team that is well known to have an organized teamplay and really strong roster/ Behind this powerhouse team is a man that dedicated his time to manage and make sure that his team will be the team to beat in Sendi Mutiara Multimedia (SMM). Today, Rapture Gaming Network brings you an exclusive interview with one of the famous managers in the Philippines none other that Justin "Boss Jus/Big Dog J" Almeida.

RGN: Why did you choose Big Dog J as your nickname?

Big Dog J: I got that nickname when I was still living in The States. I used to work out a lot and I was competing in weight lifting competitions. I was a lot fitter back then =)

 

RGN: So you lived in states. That's cool but why did you choose to live in the Philippines instead?

Big Dog J: Long story but to make it short, the economy in The States got really bad and to make it worst, I owned a couple of real estate companies, and everyone knows that took a huge dive. So to minimize my monthly expenses, I decided to come back home to where I belong, the Philippines

 

RGN: Do you have any memorable experience as Dreamz manager?

Big Dog J: I started this team from the start. I picked all my players and I wanted to pick only no top players relatively newbloods. I made a promise to all of them, just listen to me and I will make you guys champs. It took me 6 months and we became MPGL champions =) That's probably the most memorable. The second most was the first time we won this year with my current roster.

 

RGN: Before being a manager, were you a gamer, and what was your favorite game?

Big Dog J: When I was in the US, I never played video or computer games . There's so much things to do there that games was the last thing on my mind. When I got here, I watched the Lakers online and for some reason got hooked to MU. That was my game =)

 

RGN: Why did you choose to become the manager of Dreamz in the first place, and how did you make this team go to this levels?

Big Dog J: I opened a small shop so I can play MU with my friends. I named my shop Dreamz. Then one day, Owey's brothers walked in the shop and asked to play. After a while, they started to play DotA at the shop which annoyed me cause they were interfering with my MU. Other teams started to come and asked us to play against them. That's when my super competitive fire got started. I started Dreamz DotA and promised myself we were going to be the best.

 

RGN: As a manager, what do you usually do?

Big Dog J: What people don't understand that we, the managers, are the people that make or break a team. First, we have to fund the team. Then, we always have to make the players abide by our rules.

Rules as in team rules that I set a long time ago. I always have to make sure that we practice at least 6 times a week. I look for the opponents for those practices. I always have to make sure all players are in the right mind set. I insist that team first and nothing, I mean nothing can stand before the team. No player or manager is more important than the team. There's a lot more but I don't want to elaborate on those aspects anymore.

 

RGN: Any tip for someone want to start their own team?

Big Dog J: I started to instill in my players minds that we were going to be champs and we started to play against everyone. Even though other people though we were crazy to go against all top teams, we played and won against them even we were only 2 months old. I never enter anything if i'm not 100% into it. Always 100% or not at all.

 

RGN: What are your plans for your team in the future?

Big Dog J: Hmm, I think I don't want to think about that right now. The only thing in my team's mind is to win this year SMM. After that, no idea yet DotA or DOTA 2. All I know is whatever we decide to do, we will always strive for excellence.

 

RGN: What will be your team's preparation in the upcoming SMM?

Big Dog J: Right now, we are just relaxing a little bit. I think it's too early to get in to practicing now. Too much practice before a tournament might work against or goals and might lead to burnout. All of our hard work this year will pay off now. I think we did all the basic stuff all through out the year that we could rest for a while then peak at the right time. That is the key to peak at the right time and when we do that, we will be ready to face the world.

 

RGN: OK! thank you for the wonderful interview, any message / shoutout?

Big Dog J: I want to thanks our sponsor's Jason and Wilson from Ledion, Tryke and Ms.Marian from SteetSeries. All of our Dreamz family and friends. Most specially all of our fans and supporters because of you we are happy to sacrifice and give it our all to make you proud.

 

RGN: Goodluck to your team in the SMM :)