Smart Omega stays in playoffs race with victory vs. AP.Bren

Photo from MPL Philippines

by Drew Malihan

MAKATI - The Barangay keeps their playoffs hopes in high spirits as Smart Omega dealt a 2-1 beatdown of AP.Bren Esports in Week 6 of MPL Philippines Season 12 regular season Friday.

It was a repeat performance for Omega, with them previously defeating the Hive with the same score line last September 22, with captain Patrick "E2MAX" Caidic leading the team.

Things however did not start easy for the Barangay as they were defeated by APBR despite leading in kills, 11 to 7, with Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo's Minotaur leading the team with an MVP-worthy performance of 1/1/5 KDA  while providing 86 percent of all AP.Bren kills.

It was Owgwen's clutch Minoan's Fury plays that prompted the Hive to capitalize, with Kyle "KyleTzy" Sayson's Baxia getting the lord and then pushing to the exposed Omega base once summoned.

Omega relied on their late game capabilities in the second game as they hold on to even the series in 28 minutes, with prized gold laner Duane "Kelra" Pillas' Beatrix leading the team with six kills and four assists.

Nowee "Ryota" Macasa's Paquito played a huge part in the game as he pushed Omega's minions forward to pressure AP.Bren to defend, while the rest of the Barangay focusing on teamfights, with the last lord being secured by Ron Matthew "Matt" Papag.

Ryota's hard work pays off big time in the third game as he was named the MVP with a 4/2/0 KDA with the Paquito as he led Omega to a crucial win in the rubber match, which saw a low scoring 7-6 kill score in favor of AP.BR but the Barangay dominating the game from the start.

Matt's Baxia played well with five assists to his name, but also has secured all six turtles and lord takes for the Barangay, while the rest of the Omega guys keeping KyleTzy at bay and not  letting Marco "Super Marco" Requitiano's Ixia get a kill to limit their gold as well as in teamfights.

With the win, Omega jumps to a 6-6 record with 17 points, while AP.Bren also drops to 6-6 but with better accumulated point at 22.

Defending champs ECHO also benefitted from the tie, with APBR's second game defeat confirming the Orcas the top seed of the MPL PH regular season.

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