December 3, 2024
Series 3 Star Chasers Showdown Europe by Ally saw Alicia “Alemz” Martínez claim her third trophy on the same stage. A quick look at her Rocket League history shows that Alemz is solidifying her status as a top-tier player, and we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with her.
Rocket League’s female and marginalized scene is still in its early stages, with tournaments like SCS by Ally providing a launchpad for emerging talent. However, Alemz had already made a name for herself as a prominent figure in esports before entering SCS. In Series 3, she demonstrated exactly why she’s considered one of the game’s elite, showcasing the skill and experience that have earned her multiple titles and a dedicated fanbase.
With 15 goals and a jaw-dropping score of 1025, Alemz snagged the title of match MVP at SCS by Ally grand finals under Quack Quack’s banner. The team name may sound unconventional, but Alemz’s heartwarming reasoning behind the name may leave you emotional.
Interview with Alemz, MVP of the Grand Finals
Raidiant: Congratulations on your third Star Chasers Showdown win! How did it feel to secure another championship in such a competitive tournament?
Alemz: It felt amazing! It always feels good winning tournaments, especially after how tough the situation was for us due to Duckz’s passing. Thankfully, the situation was solved on time, and we could play with a superb sub, and with the effort, we got the victory.
Raidiant: In the grand finals against BS+Competition, your team pulled off a clean sweep. Did you expect that outcome, especially after such a fierce battle in the semifinals against Seemingly Divine?
Alemz: We didn’t expect that outcome, but we put Seemingly Divine as our toughest opponent during the whole tourney, so we already had thought about having a tougher fight against them than against BS+, so after beating Seemingly Divine, a big part of the pressure was gone.
Raidiant: How did your team prepare leading up to the tournament, and did anything surprise you during the event?
Alemz: We got barely any preparation due to the last-minute changes we had to make. We got with Erina a few days before the tournament happened, so we could barely prepare for it. We did a couple of scrims and a couple of analyses, and we were set to play.
Raidiant: What role did communication play in your team’s success, especially in high-pressure situations? You specifically thanked Erina in your victory post. Is there a particular reason behind that?
Alemz: I always try to make sure everyone is focused and ready to play; keeping the confidence of the teammates up is a thing someone has to do in every team, and that is most normally what I do. I wouldn’t call it IGL or captain; more like the team’s cheerleader (Laughs.)
I thanked Erina because she stepped it up a lot compared to Saturday and Sunday. I had a small talk with her about confidence and having no fear, and after that, she was ready to win.
Raidiant: As the Ally Tournament MVP, what individual skills or decisions do you think helped you stand out? We saw a lot of highlight-worthy, flashy taps, but is there more to being an MVP?
Alemz: I just try to be as consistent as I can when it comes to a tourney, it’s what matters the most, just trying to keep a high-level performance throughout the whole day is a key factor to win, which is really underrated.
Raidiant: You scored 6 goals in the final game. What was going through your mind during such a high-scoring match?
Alemz: It made me feel really confident in my abilities as a player and made me want to just score more and more. I want to show what I’m capable of every single time I get the chance to do so.
Raidiant: As a veteran in Raidiant’s Star Chasers Showdown series, how has your playstyle evolved since your first win, and what makes this victory special?
Alemz: My playstyle is based on adapting to my teammates. I won with three different rosters, so I had to adapt to everyone’s playstyle more than having a playstyle on my own. This victory is special because it’s dedicated to Millie, who many people know as Duckz, who was gonna play with us but unfortunately passed away a couple of months ago. It was very devastating news for everyone, and everyone on our team was really affected because she was very close to both Sophie (Stvn) and me. We changed the team name to Quack Quack for her.
Thank you, Alemz, for taking the time to answer our questions! We can’t wait to see more.