Kaplan Says Sentinels Moving Forward Confidently After Sacy and TenZ

Head coach of VCT Americas giants Sentinels, Adam “kaplan” Kaplan, recently shared his thoughts on the team’s transformation after the departure of two star players – Gustavo “Sacy” Ross and Tyson “TenZ” Ngo – in less than a year.

Both players made a lasting impression on fans with their impressive performances to help the Red Giant win major championships. Eventually, Sacy retired from professional play in September 2024, followed by TenZ last January.

This raised concerns among the Sentinels fanbase about the team’s prospects for the 2025 season, especially after a stumble at Masters Bangkok last February. However, Kaplan remains cool, believing his team is still evolving after the roster overhaul.

Speaking exclusively after Sentinels’ opening win at VCT Masters Toronto, the 30-year-old coach acknowledged Sacy and TenZ’s departures were significant. Yet, he expressed confidence in the three remaining veteran players – Zachary “zekken” Jude, Jordan “zellsis” Montemurro, and Mohamed “johnqt” Amine – who have stepped up to help integrate their new, younger teammates.

“It’s definitely a big change. Like a very different team with two players change, even though you can say we kept the core of three. I think that John, Zellsis, and Zekken all did a great job stepping up, and really making Sean (bang) and Marshall (N4RRATE) feel comfortable.”

Kaplan added that although bang and N4RRATE are still considered as youngsters, he praised their hard work to fulfill Sentinels fans’ expectations, especially those missing the Sacy-TenZ duo. He also expressed gratitude as both of them have made his job easier recently.

Sentinels continue their Masters Toronto Swiss Stage campaign in the next morning against BiliBili Gaming, aiming to secure a spot in the playoffs.