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| Photo from MPL Philippines |
by Drew Malihan
MAKATI - Defending champions and league leaders ECHO survived RSG Philippines' surprise blitz playstyle to finish Week 2 of MPL Philippines Season 12 with a 2-1 win on Sunday.
Both teams retained their main five despite contrasting results, with ECHO getting a 2-0 win over Smart Omega, while RSG fell to an 0-2 upset against Minana EVOS on Saturday.
The Raiders went guns blazing against the Orcas in Game 1, getting every neutral objective possible as well as denying Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno's every buff possible thanks to John Darry "Irrad" Abarquez's Baxia's mobility and Dylan "Light" Catipon's denial, as well as not letting ECHO assemble for team fights with ambushes.
Despite having inferior early-to-mid damage, RSG's superior objective control propels them to a 19-5 quick win in nine minutes and 57 seconds, the fastest so far in any pro leagues this season, with Light's Franco getting the MVP nod with one kill and 10 assists in his name.
ECHO returned the favor in the second game and executed a 13-7 domination, with the Orcas this time not letting the Raiders take a single turtle, lord, or turret.
Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya took the second game MVP honors with a 5/2/3 KDA with his signature Paquito, while the SanSan duo's other half, Alston "Sanji" Pabico, grabbed three kills and nine assists with the Novaria.
The Orcas rode on their momentum coming into the third game, and despite RSG PH playing fire with fire with Irrad's comfor Fanny pick, ECHO went on to deny any possible buffs for the opposing jungler and grab all major objectives while only losing two turrets in the process.
With the lord in their side, the defending champs went on to attack RSG's base and made the Raiders play defense to no avail as ECHO took the series in just 14 minutes.
Sanji's Novaria took the MVP nod will 1/0/6 KDA in his name while Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales's Karrie registered 5/1/1 with the Karrie.
ECHO solidified their hold to top of the table with a perfect 5-0 win loss record while RSG settled for 5th place at the end of Week 2 with a 2-3 record.
The defending champs will see Minana EVOS (1-4) on Friday, while RSG will try to stop their two game lose skid against Smart Omega on Saturday.
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