XTQZZZ on jL: ‘We welcomed the change’

Vitality reached the BLAST Porto semi-finals after beating FURIA in the quarter-final while fielding stand-in Justinas “jL” Lekavicius. Coach Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam said the squad accepted the roster change and used the match to test group dynamics.

Quoniam gave a map-by-map assessment of the series. He described the first map as a heavy loss, noting FURIA played aggressively and anticipated Vitality’s approach, which forced the team to adapt. On Cache, Vitality lost both pistols but posted a strong CT side. The coach pointed to several T-side rounds where the team was out of sync and missed chances, which kept the map close. Dust2 showed clearer improvement, with Vitality’s T side performing better and the team acting with increased awareness against another aggressive CT setup.

Nuke remained a concern. Quoniam said the T side moved too quickly, lacked mid-round control and produced only seven or eight rounds. He outlined plans to review T-side patterns in the hours after the match and described the issue as something the team can address in practice.

On integrating jL, Quoniam explained the approach was practical and focused on role clarity. He asked jL to give ideas and to occupy his preferred CT positions while offering extra support on T side to reinforce set plays and utility use. Quoniam described the mezii responsibilities as demanding and acknowledged that jL has at times struggled to reset after mistakes. “Sometimes he is really frustrated because he did one mistake and it was tough for him to reset, so we try to help him as much as we can,” Quoniam added.

Quoniam downplayed the notion that reaching the semis with a stand-in is an accomplishment on its own. “For me right now, it’s not an achievement. If we are in the final, maybe you can consider it a bit differently,” he said, noting the team has been focusing on mindset and on improving their VRS. He also highlighted that the BLAST Porto schedule gave Vitality extra practice time and a day off, and called jL’s experience a benefit for the lineup.

The win ends a four-event run without a top-four finish for Vitality. The team will continue working on tactical adjustments and cohesion as it prepares for the semi-final in Porto.