Interview with HugS on the bootcamp at 76ers training facility

Team Dignitas is partnered with Philadelphia’s NBA team, the 76ers, and so our Smash players Hugo "HugS" Gonzalez and Joey "Lucky" Aldama were invited to visit the training facility in February. To get a little bit of an insight into how the bootcamp and the following tournaments went - check our interview with HugS!

How was the bootcamp that Team Dignitas put you through? As seen on your Instagram, you did a couple of interviews and got up bright and early.

HugS: Haha, the bootcamp was brutal. All that brewery content and free food. But for real, it was so much fun, I hope they never need me to wake up at 8 am ever again. 


How was the tour day? What did you get to see?

HugS: Their facilities were awesome! I got to hang out at the practice gym, had a meal from the 76ers chef, and I got to hang out in the game room. My favorite part of it had to be hanging out on the rooftop patio. Really relaxing. 


Did they have you do any of the physical training that they put the basketball athletes through?

HugS: We got to meet with the team’s physical therapist who put us through a bunch of different hand and back stretches.


That definitely sounds like a good idea with the eSports line of work - make sure to do stretches! After taking the tour and learning different aspects of training, what have you learned that amazed you the most?

HugS: The most amazing part of the trip was learning that these world-class athletes on the 76ers have moments of weakness just as we do. The fact that they can still perform as they do, in a sport as refined as basketball, while being completely human, it lets me know that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself for not being a perfect competitor 100% of the time. 


How did you feel coming back from your trip to the 76ers facility in Philadelphia? 

HugS: Overall it was just a perfect experience. Being treated like an actual athlete by the people who deal with the 76ers and Devils was such an honor. I can’t wait to go back!


Did you ever think you’d end up in a major sports team's facility? What about the gifts?

HugS: I never thought I’d be in this kind of position! Even knowing that I wanted to make competitive gaming my career, I didn’t think I’d be working under such legitimate sports teams and be invited under their roof as one of their own. Lucky and I got jerseys with our tags on the back, caps, cufflinks, and a couple of shirts - they're awesome!


Since you traveled through Pennsylvania for a few days, where was the best place you went for food, or the best activity?

HugS: Tired Hands Brewing in Philly. It easily became one of the best breweries I’ve ever been to. The beer was both experimental, yet not over-the-top, and the food was incredible. We also got to film an AMAZING beer review segment you won’t want to miss :)


Now that it’s been a few months into your sponsorship, how do you feel Team Dignitas is helping your career? Are you feeling new fans come in from being a part of the team?

HugS: They’ve been better than I could have imagined. I think the thing that has progressed my career the most is the amount of content they put out involving me, and the fact that they’re constantly including me in promotional activities. I really wanted a team that would believe in my brand so much that they would push it themselves and help me reach new audiences that will hopefully remain interested in me for years to come. 


No Fun Allowed 2, in Texas, took place quickly after your trip to Philadelphia, how did that go?

HugS: NFA2 was great. I was concerned I wouldn’t have proper practice leading up to the event since I had spent my time at the 76ers facility, but Team Dignitas was able to provide Lucky and I a setup to practice on, and I ended up winning the event after a hard fought grand finals over La Luna (The Moon).


Those sets were definitely intense, you both are big favorites so it was hard to pick a side! Of course, going with Team Dignitas's very own HugS was the first pick! What was your biggest concern going into the EGLX in Canada, as it was only a couple weeks after NFA2?

HugS: I didn’t have too many concerns going into EGLX. I had practiced well, and I felt ready.


You competed and finished 9th (top 32), how do you feel about your placement? What were you looking to improve for Full Bloom?

HugS: I felt okay about my placement. I ended up losing to Ryan Ford, who I hadn’t lost to since 2011, but I recognize he’s been getting much better. In the end, considering I was sick and had trouble sleeping, I’m surprised I did as well as I did. For Full Bloom, I was basically looking to be in better physical form for the event, while improving my Sheik matchup, which I evidently did. 


At Full Bloom, what was the set you performed the best at? What about the worst one, and what do you think happened in that one?

HugS: I felt my best playing vs Swedish Delight at Full Bloom. Sheik’s a tough matchup for Samus, and he’s been taking out Duck recently, so beating him was big for me. I wish I could have continued competing after because I was feeling in the zone. Unfortunately, I don’t feel I was playing as hot the next day, and I don’t think I ever got a chance to slow things down in the n0ne match to qualify for Summit.


While you were reviewing your bracket for Full Bloom on stream, you voiced that it may be a little hard. How well were you expecting to do? Who did you expect would be the hardest to beat if you continued through winners?

HugS: I try not to have expectations. Some people do it because it helps pump them up for an event, and some people even have negative expectations, because it helps them play loosely since they don’t expect to do well anyway. I don’t think expectations make the kind of difference I want in my gameplay. So I just rely on the work I’ve put in up until the event, and let that work do the talking. My hardest match would have been Wizzrobe, but I still wanted to get a set in with him. 


During Full Bloom, you also showed off some new strategies that you’ve been practicing. Did you feel like your practice paid off?

HugS: Oh for sure. Whenever I think up something new, I practice it against humans into oblivion. I use it a ton, even as it fails, and people often tell me that my idea doesn’t work. That’s just part of my process though. I like to see where it works, where it doesn’t, and I then learn what situations to use it in during tournaments. 


You had a little bit of time to practice between EGLX, The Mango, and Full Bloom; what did you do to prepare between all of the tournaments and is it normal for you to go to so many in that short span of time? Were you mentally and physically prepared for all of them?

HugS: I would focus on 3 major things: solo tech drills to keep my execution up, netplay to practice my decision making vs humans, and a small local a week to practice maintaining tournament composure. I try to avoid doing that many tournaments on back to back weekends, but it’s pretty common to have to do that in Smash, especially in the summer. I felt good though and took on a week break after Full Bloom to recharge before the big spring tournaments.


Despite all of that, you didn’t drop a single game until n0ne in Top 48, not against Ginger, or Swedish Delight, who showed impressive potential during The Mango and got the top standings. How did you feel about that? Did you expect n0ne to be a challenge?

HugS: I always know n0ne is a challenge, and he’s scary because he’s wild. Sometimes he can be contained, other times he walks all over you. It just wasn’t my day to beat him then, but I’ll try for next time.


Nevertheless, your performance is improving! What can you attribute your recent success to?

HugS: Simply put, I’ve just been practicing more and practicing smarter. I’ve also been doing some lessons with Druggedfox, which has helped me gameplan against some specific players and matchups.


What’s the next tournament you plan on entering?

HugS: I’m entering Flatiron 3 in Boulder, CO. It was one of my favorite tournaments from last year and I’m so excited to go again. It’s not until April 21st though, but I've been busy with PAX and streaming other games.



That wraps up our catch up with you! Thanks for your time. As always, have any shout outs?

HugS: As always, shoutouts to the SubPub on Twitch. Without their support, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. And of course, shoutout to Team Dignitas and our sponsors!