Legacy completed a memorable CS Asia Championships run with an emphatic 3-1 victory over pre-tournament favorites Falcons, not only securing the trophy but also defending the title they won at CAC back in 2025.
The man who was the driving force behind their successful title defense was none other than Bruno “latto” Rebelatto, who posted monstrous numbers across the tournament and provided a staggering nine clutches, multiple coming in the grand final.
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latto goes back-to-back with second CAC MVP
“I am so happy,” latto hold HLTV in his MVP interview. “We knew it was going to be a really tough match. They’re a really good team, no question about it. They’ve got nothing but insane players. And the fact that we managed to win that final against them shows that we’re on the right track.”
latto admitted that this CAC victory was a little bit more special than last year, because of their opponents in the final. “This one has a little extra something to it, I think, because in the final we faced Falcons, a team I respect a lot.”
The now two-time MVP also spoke at length about the series against Falcons, the contributions of his new IGL Andrei “arT” Piovezan, and the upcoming Major.
latto, back-to-back CAC champion and back-to-back MVP. You defeated Falcons very convincingly in the final. How does it feel?
I am so happy. We knew it was going to be a really tough match. They’re a really good team, no question about it. They’ve got nothing but insane players. And the fact that we managed to win that final against them shows that we’re on the right track. It’s an immense joy, to be honest.
What is it about this event that brings out the best in you?
Man, I don’t know, to be honest [laughs]. I think my team always helps me out. I had a bit of a rough start to the year, but I believe they managed to help me get back on track, to perform well again. And it’s a help from the whole team. We help each other a lot every day. It’s not about a specific tournament. But going back-to-back here and being back-to-back MVP is amazing.
I think my team always helps me out. I had a bit of a rough start to the year, but I believe they managed to help me get back on track, to perform well again
How would you compare this run to last year’s? Which one was harder and more special?
It’s really hard to compare them, you know? Because I think the first one is always really special, right? We didn’t really know what to expect either. So I think the first one was really memorable. This second one, I think, is also a new phase for the team, a phase where we’re getting to know each other, we’re evolving. So this tournament really helps with that, right before the Major, so I think our confidence is really high.
But I think both wins are really special, but this one has a little extra something to it, I think, because in the final we faced Falcons, a team I respect a lot.
Let’s talk a little about this series. Last year, you needed five maps to beat 3DMAX. This year, you needed four. And perhaps the most surprising thing is that it could have been a 3-0. You were up 11-9 on Nuke before NiKo got those two Deagle kills and the game changed.
I was a little surprised it ended up being 3-1, to be honest. I thought it was going to be a BO5 series, all maps. Anyway, I think we played really well. The whole team was on today, everyone was on fire, hitting a lot of shots. The shots were going our way.
After we lost Nuke, we talked and said: ‘Guys, the game was in our hands, we let it slip away. It happens. The other guys had some crazy shots and played great.’ We got our heads back on straight and went into the remaining maps with the same mindset.
After we lost Nuke, we talked and said: ‘Guys, the game was in our hands, we let it slip away. It happens. The other guys had some crazy shots and played great.’ We got our heads back on straight
arT told me yesterday that the kids would step up in the final, and that’s what happened. What was the secret for you to come in and play differently when compared to the previous match against Falcons?
I think it was the conversations, to be honest. We’ve been talking a lot. I also think that starting from the quarterfinals and going all the way to the final — I believe those matches give you a boost, you know?
So I think we’ve been having these conversations since the quarterfinals against The MongolZ, then against MIBR and now against Falcons in the final. So I think these conversations we’ve had about mindset, about us keeping up the rhythm, about not tilting when things don’t go our way, about not giving up on the game and always trying to come back. I think those conversations made us have a totally different mindset today.
You came into the final as the reigning champions, but the fact is that you didn’t have any pressure; it was all on Falcons, because they’ve been chasing a trophy for over a year now. Do you think they felt the pressure?
It was something we talked about before the game. We said, ‘Guys, the pressure’s on them. They’re the favorites, so let’s just play our game and show what we’re capable of. If we can perform really well, we know we can win, but no pressure: we’ll do our part and then it’s in God’s hands.’
So I think we did that well; at no point did I see us putting too much pressure on ourselves. We were just playing our game and trying to show that we were coming in strong, too.
He’s really good for the team; he pushes everyone, and at the same time, he’s a great leader outside of the game
arT told me yesterday that he believes he’s become a better leader since he joined Legacy. Is there anything about him that has surprised you?
I have to say he has surprised me a little. I don’t know what he was like on other teams, but looking in from the outside, sometimes you don’t really get a sense of what a guy is like, what he’s like daily, and he has really surprised me.
He’s really good for the team; he pushes everyone, and at the same time, he’s a great leader outside of the game. He brings the team together to get things done. He’s like a father figure to everyone, you know? I think he’s really important to us; he’s making a huge difference for us.
We will get good preparation, keep our heads on straight, because there’s a Major to play and we’re aiming for the playoffs — and, who knows, maybe even a title
And now the Major, right? You’ll have less than two weeks to prepare for it, and you’ll start in Stage 2. How are you going to reset to build on this win and approach the event with the same energy?
Just the fact that we won here gives us a clear confidence boost for the upcoming games. But it’s also true that we now might be a team that teams are looking out for and studying more. So now we’re going to prepare for two weeks over in Serbia. We will get good preparation, keep our heads on straight, because there’s a Major to play and we’re aiming for the playoffs — and, who knows, maybe even a title.
No days off, right?
No days off. No days off. Now we are fully focused on the Major, which is really important.
