 |
| Screencap from MPL Philippines |
by Drew Malihan
MAKATI - RSG Philippines stands tall in a three-game showdown against a resilient AP.Bren to close their MPL Philippines Season 12 Week 1 campaign, two games to one, on Sunday.
Both teams remained unchanged with their lineups from their last matches, with RSG coming off a 0-2 defeat against Blacklist International and AP.Bren winning against TNC Pro Team on Friday.
RSG picked a jungle Guinevere for John Darry "Irrad" Abarquez and Arvie "Aqua" Antonio getting a flicker-enhanced Gord, while Bren drafted an Irithel for Marco "Super Marco" Requitiano.
The Hive grabbed the early game advantage, getting the first two turtles in the game but RSG held on to their late game Bruno insurance from Eman "EMANN" Sangco, who continuously getting his bottom lane push.
A crucial set from Dylan "Light" Catipon's Edith on Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel's Valentina during a Bren lord take attempt in the 13th minute was risk worth taking as the rest of the Hive fell at the hands of the Raiders for the next two minutes.
With the lord in RSG's side, the men in blue went straight to call GGs for a 1-0 lead with Light's 3/3/13 KDA getting the MVP nod.
Brian "Panda" Im kept the Guinevere for Irrad to go with an Arlott for Nathanael "Nathzz" Estrologo while Kyle "KyleTzy" Sayson goes for a sweeper role with the Fanny to go along a set-heavy duo of Terizla and Chou.
RSG and AP.Bren went toe-to-toe in the second game for 30 minutes with four lord takes and multiple team fights between teams, as both Light's Khufra and Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo's Chou making significant sets for their teams.
A Pheww's Pharsa takedown on Aqua's Valentina spelled the end for the Raiders as the remaining members were chased down and eventually falling to Super Marco's Karrie's hands en route to force a rubber match for AP.Bren, 20 kills to 14.
KyleTzy's Fanny took the MVP nod with four kills and nine assists while only falling once, while Owgwen was reponsible for 75 percent of total Bren kills.
Kyletzy keeps the Fanny for the third game slong with the gold lane Brody for Super Marco and FlapTzy with the Uranus, while RSG opted for a Ruby roamer for Light and Irrad with the jungle Joy.
Fans inside the Shooting Gallery Studios were treated to a 35-minute thriller with both teams not letting the other capitalize on every opportunity, but AP.Bren holding RSG scoreless for 13 minutes before EMANN took down Super Marco with the help of three other Raiders.
A clutch penalty zone from Nathzz's Terizla gave way for the Raiders as Pheww's Pharsa was knocked out followed by David "FlapTzy" Canon falling down to Aqua's Valentina.
Without the two zoners, AP.Bren defended their base to a losing effort as EMANN led RSG to a tower lock and eventually taking the series, with the gold laner taking the MVP nod with four kills and three assists.
RSG moved to a 2-1 match win-loss record with four points, tying with AP.Bren (1-1).
The Raiders will skip Friday as they will have their next match against Minana EVOS on Saturday while AP.Bren will try to bounce back against winless ONIC Philippines on Friday.
Follow him on X: @drew_corner
.jpg)
