Justinas "jL" Lekavicius has opened up about his experience filling in for mezii at Vitality, explaining that he performs best when staying true to his own style rather than imitating another player.
Vitality stumbled in their BLAST Open Porto opener, falling to Inner Circle in an upset loss. However, jL believes that defeat proved beneficial. The Lithuanian explained that the loss forced necessary conversations about roles and responsibilities, making everything clearer for the squad moving forward.
While jL takes on mezii's positional duties, he acknowledges the impossibility of replicating every nuance. Set pieces can be learned, but mid-round reactions and utility timing require personal instinct. After reviewing these aspects with the team, gameplay became significantly smoother.
The stand-in described his approach as a balance: handling mezii's structural responsibilities while maintaining his individual decision-making in reactive situations. He credits flameZ for recognizing early discomfort and initiating team discussions, though the entire roster contributed to his integration.
Reflecting on previous stand-in experiences with Liquid and MOUZ, jL noted a shift in philosophy. With MOUZ, he tried becoming someone he wasn't, focusing purely on role execution. At Vitality, he embraces mezii's responsibilities but refuses to sacrifice his natural gameplay instincts.
This approach delivered results, including his second-best rated LAN map performance against 9z. jL expressed genuine comfort with his current roles, finding them more suitable than his previous positions.
Playing alongside elite teammates has provided valuable insights. He highlighted ropz's unmatched work ethic, ZywOo's undeniable talent, and apEX's authentic leadership style. The team's open atmosphere allows complete authenticity, which jL considers crucial for peak performance.
Looking toward playoffs against FURIA, jL radiates confidence. Despite FURIA's struggles and molodoy's health concerns, he emphasized that no opponent receives easy treatment. Vitality has improved with each match, and the challenging bracket only strengthens their preparation.
