arrozdoce: "I didn't expect to make the playoffs when I started to play open qualifiers"

After starting in the open qualifiers, NIP have secured their appearance in the Barys Arena.

Ninjas in Pyjamas came into 2025 with a completely revamped roster, which meant they played their first matches with Audric "⁠JACKZ⁠" Jug in place of Rafael "⁠arrozdoce⁠" Wing in order to secure some invites.

The Portuguese rifler says that decision also had it's positives, however. "I think it was really good for me to have an outside view of the team, what mistakes are going on, and how to fix them," he tells HLTV.

arrozdoce and company, who played a total 17 matches across the open, closed, and group stages, are now set to make their arena debut at PGL Astana.

After the win against G2, the Portuguese rifler spoke about the team's true standing in the scene and his adaptation to English communication and star-player roles.

---

First of all, congrats on making the playoffs. As I said before, a tough road from open qualifiers to closed, to the group stage, now you're in the playoffs. How do you feel about making such a step?

When we started the team, we knew it was going to be tough because we come from zero points, basically. The only chance we had was to play the opens and make it here, and I always believed in the team because we are very strong. We are improving day by day, match by match. I didn't expect to make the playoffs when I started to play open qualifiers, but yeah, I feel great.

Here, you only lost to Aurora and Spirit, two, very good teams, and beat everyone else. Where would you rank the team currently? You obviously don't have ranking points, so you're lower down, but where do you think this team is at the moment?

I would put ourselves in the top 10, basically top 15 with the tier-one teams, because we are a tier-one team. We still don't have the points, but we are.

You've made the playoffs. What is the goal for the arena games?

It's the same goal as the group stage. We won the matches, but we still made mistakes. We're going to fix them, we're going to improve,and we're going to be ready for whoever we play against in the arena and give our best.

More on a general note, this Monday you've broken into the top 30 in both VRS and HLTV rankings. How much better is the second part of the year going to be for you guys now that you don't have to play CCT and open qualifiers for everything?

Yeah, our main goal was to make the top 30 by the end of the season, so we are playing the main tournaments, group stage and playoffs, and not the qualifiers, in the second season. So yeah, we reached our goal, and I think we are very happy about it.

At the start of this team, you didn't play because of the VRS invites. How hard was looking from the outside and seeing the team struggle for results?

It was tough to be outside and not play. Also, at the same time, I think it was really good for me to have an outside view of the team, because you get an outside view, what mistakes are going on, and how to fix them. I didn't want to be outside for like three months, it was tough, but I'm glad I'm playing now.

This is also your first international team. How has that been for you?

I think the most difficult part was the English at the start. I think my English playing the game was OK because you don't have to communicate much, but then I got the role of the star player, and I needed to speak a lot. I think the first two weeks, it was really hard for me to express myself, but with time, I think I'm really good right now, and I'm giving a lot to the team.

How has it been put into this star role?

Yeah, I was an anchor and a lurker, so at the start, I was clueless of what a star player was. But I mean, I just call the plays I want to do, control the sides more or give initiative way more, and just kill, run and kill.