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| Photo from Moonton |
by Drew Malihan
MAKATI - Defending champions Echo extends their win streak to two as they reverse sweep ONIC Philippines, 2-1, to wrap up Week 1 Day 2 of MPL Philippines Season 12 on Saturday.
Echo keep veteran Jaypee "Jaypee" dela Cruz to the main five with Tristan "Yawi" Cabrera sitting out, while ONIC PH put Frince "Super Frince" Ramirez and Jem "Jem" Lanojan in place of former TNC members Mark Genzon "K R A M M" Rusiana and Jomearie "Escalera" delos Santos.
It was a neck-to-neck affair for both teams wth Echo securing the early game getting most of thr map control despite being close in kill counts.
Kenneth "Nets" Barro's Bruno tried to make a backdoor game play, taking down Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya's Terizla before being mauled by the rest of the Echo members.
But a skirmish in the 14th minute proved to be costly for the defending champs as it only left Sanford against Jem's X.Borg and Super Frince's Pharsa while Dean Christian "Raizen" Sumagui's Lancelot finished what Nets had started and went straight to the base to complete the backdoor play and cop the MVP nod.
The defending champs did not back down from a fight as they engaged in another close Game 2 encounter which saw more back-and-forth between them and ONIC PH.
Despite attempts from the hedgehogs to fihgt back with limiting Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales' Bruno, the prized marksman hits a crucial Worldie that puts down Jem and started Echo's late game spike.
It was Alston "Sanji" Pabico's Yve who grabbed the MVP nod with a 5/1/4 KDA including a last gasp Real World Manipulation that took down two ONIC PH heroes to force a rubber match.
Both teams engaged in a head-to-head warfare but it was Echo winning the gold ang map control battle with several buff steals and denies from Jaypee's Franco.
It was Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno's kill over Jem that began the end for ONIC PH's defenses, followed by a Bennyqt taking down Raizen and the rest of the Echo quintet going straight to the base to clinch in win.
Both teams will take a quick break on Sunday, as Echo will saw action next against Smart Omega and ONIC PH facing AP.Bren on September 15.
Follow him on X: @drew_corner
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