Saigon Buffalo’s mid laner Froggy talked to Gamelevate on Day 2 of the MSI Group Stage about Vietnam’s return to the international stage, facing off against Faker and T1, and preparing as a young roster for the international stage.

After a two-year absence from MSI, the VCS has made a triumphant return to international competition. Representing Vietnam is Saigon Buffalo, a young roster hungry to show the world why they are the best from the VCS. Helming the mid lane is Bùi Văn “Froggy” Minh Hải. Froggy has shown in the tournament why he should be a respected mid laner going up against legends such as Faker as well as other well-known Mid laners across the world.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. We would like to thank the translators with Lol Esports for translating this interview.

Froggy, thank you so much for speaking with us this morning. This is your first big international tournament. Can you talk about what it’s like?

So I feel like the first time going on an international stage is a big challenge for Saigon Buffalo. But this is also an opportunity to show the world what the VCS is capable of, especially because we have been missing quite a few international events before this.

Today you went up against the LJL representatives in DFM. What was it like playing against them?

We haven’t had a chance to scrim with DFM before this match but the strategy is just to be ourselves, stick to the plan, capitalize on mistakes and turn it to our advantage to have a victory

In today’s game: you picked the Sylas and we’ve seen a little bit of Sylas at MSI. Can you talk to me about your reasoning behind this pick?

So I am a player with a very fierce and aggressive playstyle, and I like to fight opponents a lot. Like it’s the best champion to fight against Twisted Fate and is also suitable for our team’s competition. I have practiced this champion before, so I’ll go for it.

You guys played a more aggressive comp into the Urgot and Viego which are two popular picks played by Evi and Steal respectively. Were these picks that you’re kind of expecting to see or did they catch you off guard with the Urgot?

So we have been researching carefully into DFM and we know that Evi has been playing Urgot a lot, especially on the international stage as well and Viego is a stable champion in the jungle. So we are not surprised at all. We just stick to our plan, play well and defeat them.

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Saigon Buffalo is a rather young roster and we haven’t seen anyone on the international stage. And I want to know what have you guys been doing, without giving anything away, to just make sure that you guys are comfortable and ready to face some of these teams especially when you’re in a group with teams such as T1?

So to cope with this first in the international experience, we have like a very reasonable training, but also like relaxing schedule. We go out, and have fun, but especially we have these moments where we sit down together, we share our emotions, how are we feeling right now. And we listen to the sharings from like, our big brothers like our coach, our manager, or our teammate, Bigkoro, who has been on the international stage many times, listening to them really helped us become prepared for the tournament.

I want to ask about the mid lane talent a little bit. You’ve had the chance to face off against arguably the best mid in the tournament in Faker, but I want to know is there any other mid laner that you’re looking forward to facing off against?

Besides Faker, Xiaohu from RNG, and Caps from G2, but to be a bit greedy, I want to face off against all the mid laners in the tournament

As you mentioned earlier in the interview, the VCS has not been at an international event in the last few years. What does it mean for you personally as a player to represent your country at MSI?

So for our team, it has been a long way. And our team has been building up a lot in the past few years. And I think personally this is the moment for myself and the team to shine bright internationally.

Finally, Is there anything you’d like to say to fans of Saigon Buffalo who are reading Gamelevate’s articles?

Thank you to all the fans out there rooting for Saigon Buffalo and we will pay you back with our exceptional performance in the next few days.