bodyy: “We’re moving forward into being ourselves more in those pressure games”

bodyy: “We’re moving forward into being ourselves more in those pressure games”

After 3DMAX’s hard-fought win over G2 to clinch a playoff spot at ESL Pro League Season 22, Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro expressed optimism about the team’s growth under pressure.

3DMAX underwent a significant internal shift over the summer: Filip “Graviti” Brankovic assumed the in-game leader (IGL) role, replacing Bryan “Maka” Canda. In their early outings with this new structure, results were inconsistent, but at EPL they managed to defeat Natus Vincere, FaZe, and G2 to reach the playoffs under the new IGL.

bodyy commented on how the restructuring has affected individual roles. “The biggest change that we can see on the server regarding us is probably Bryan [Maka] being free and being able to focus on his crosshair,” he said, highlighting that freeing Maka from primary calling duties has given him more space to perform. He also reflected on the G2 series:

“That was a stressful game, not gonna lie. Those guys are veterans … we managed to disrupt them and make them uncomfortable.”

“It felt so good … making playoffs. This is literally what we needed the team to achieve recently.”

He acknowledged the team’s previous tendency under pressure to stray from their natural style, but asserted that they are making progress:

“We’re moving forward into being ourselves more in those pressure games … before, we could lose ourselves or try to play a style that is not fitting … This year … there’s been a lot of ups and downs … we’re getting closer to what we want to do.”

Additional context and viewpoints

Maka on releasing IGL duties
Bryan “Maka” Canda has spoken candidly about the change. He admitted that in earlier periods, he struggled to find his place while balancing calling and fragging:

“I couldn’t find my place in the team … everything is connected … you’re playing worse and worse.”

However, Maka is encouraged by Graviti’s approach:

“He is able to see what I was not able to, because … some players are probably not in the best positions sometimes … I was maybe not using them in the best positions on some maps.”

He also commented on a standout moment:

“When I get clips like that, I’m kinda composed … but this one was crazy … I was feeling too much heat in my body …” (referring to a triple one-tap highlight)

Lucky on role change effects
Lucas “Lucky” Chastang also weighed in on the restructure after 3DMAX’s exit in Riyadh. He said the move to give Graviti the IGL duties was intended to unlock Maka’s potential:

“I think it’s going to give Maka more freedom to play at his full potential … Graviti is going to strive more too.”

He praised the team’s progress, especially the victory over NAVI, and expressed belief in their direction under the new setup.

Graviti on confidence and vision
Filip “Graviti” Brankovic, as the new IGL, has been positive about the team’s trajectory. Ahead of FISSURE Playground 2, he stated:

“We have the capacity to beat all the teams here … but the event is very stacked.”

He also explained his approach:

“I try to put players in the best situation … leave them some space but at the same time keep control on the rounds … on some maps I lead, on others they call, depending.”

Interestingly, the coaching staff also saw changes: Pierre “YouKnow” Marco was promoted to head coach after Damien “wasiNk” Dufour’s departure.

Recent results and momentum

In his debut as IGL, Graviti helped steer 3DMAX to an upset over defending champion Natus Vincere in the Esports World Cup, knocking NAVI out 2–1. At EPL, 3DMAX progressed to the 2–1 bracket over NAVI, further cementing the idea that the team is growing more consistent.

Earlier in the season, the organization extended contracts with the core roster (Maka, Lucky, Ex3rcice, Graviti, and bodyy), signaling long-term faith in the lineup.

To start EPL S22, Nivera was set to stand in for Maka—likely to allow Maka some adjustment time in his new role.