NAME: Julius 'Julz' Deleon
COUNTRY: 
Philippines
OCCUPATION: Mineski player
POSITION: Carry (1-position)
AGE: 20
Hi! Thank you for giving us time for this interview. What have you been up to lately?
I'm doing great. We have been practicing a lot because PGF (Pinoy Gaming Festival) is drawing near.
Let's start this with a little flashback. I think it was also PGF a few years ago where you first appeared as a member of Dreamz. Now, we are about to see you again, this time back with Mineski. Is that pure coincidence or is there something on this time of the year that makes you change teams? *laughs*
*laughs* There were some small problems with me before, which is why I was transferred to Dreamz. But it's not the season that got me thinking, it's just that I really am for Mineski.
In your career, you also played for another team in between playing with Mineski and Dreamz and back. You were a part of MSIEvoGT, where you played alongside old HappyFeet teammates Wootz and John. How did you end up joining MSI from Dreamz?
There were some unfortunate things that happened at Dreamz, so my manager (BigDog J) decided to swap me with Ryo from MSI. Though it was not my choice, I have nothing to say against MSI as they treated me very well.
Well, you played for that team until MSI Beat It! last September. After that, you were already seen playing with Mineski. Was it by pure chance, or had you planned that to be your last tournament with the team?
I really didn't plan to go to MSI, because I wanted to join Mineski again. However, I was traded into the team, which is why I couldn't just exit. I have to leave on good terms. Because of that, I waited for the right time and stated that I would only be playing for the team until the Beat It! event.
Now you are back with yet again, old teammates, this time in Vash, Owa and Bimbo. What do you feel now that you are playing with them and with the Mineski organization again?
Of course I am really happy. It also helps on our play a lot, because we are old teammates and we know each other well.
Arguably three of the most famous and skilled Dota 2 players in the Philippines in you, Jhoven and Bimbo are now on the same team. Do you think that this translates to a big advantage in the game, or do you think that this doesn't matter much?
I do think that our team is well recognized and the players are very skilled individually, but the answer is still in how well we can perform as a team.
Let's dig a little further down the past. Warcraft III's DotA is still by far a more popular game than Dota 2. Actually, you were still playing DotA just last year. When did you decide that 2013 would be for Dota 2? Was it a vision from TI1, or after SMM, or when Dreamz chose to, or?
After SMM (DotA) last year, we played nothing but Dota 2. However, the team was still casually joining DotA tournaments. We could not find our groove however, and we kept on losing, so we decided to switch for good.
Mineski photoshoot. Photo from Julz's Facebook.
What can you say about the current status of Dota 2 in the Philippines? You are well aware of how popular its predecessor still is. Do you think Dota 2 can go beyond that?
I think that yes, in time, it will go beyond DotA. But I also think that DotA won't 'die' as it has a part in the gaming culture already.
Seeing how Orange and MUFC, our SEA brothers, have fared in The International 3, do you think there is a chance that we'll see a Filipino team in The International again?
We all know that Filipinos are lazy and are very prideful. If we can work on that, I would say that our country would stand a fair chance to get back into that tournament.
Well, let's head back to the recent happenings. What can you say about the latest major patch (6.79)?
The changes were very big. It's a completely new metagame. There were lots of changes in the hero and item mechanics, and so a lot of training is needed so that we can adjust and adapt to the new version.
How do you think this change will affect PGF, which will be happening this weekend?
It should be exciting for all teams. The same scenario applies for all, so no team should have any excuses regarding the changes. It is up to them how they study and learn the changes.
How are you guys training for this tournament?
We have been playing against different SEA teams daily, and we also watch our replays a lot so we can learn which things we have to change and improve.
What would your team's advantage be,heading into the tournament?
As I said before, I think we have a solid team. But there is no guarantee in this game, and team work is still really the key.
Do you have any specific plans for the future?
I want to study, I miss going to school. I guess that would be it.
Any shout-outs?
I want to thank my previous managers from Dreamz and MSI. I also greet my best friends in Owey, Dell, Chris, LA. I also want to thank my other friends for always having my back. I also want to thank my family for their support towards me.
