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| Boom Esports is back as the PKL champion. PKL |
QUEZON CITY--Boom Esports is back on top of the PKL podium after snapping Team Flash Philippines' Cinderella run with a 4-2 win in the grand finals of the spring season on Sunday night.
In front of a jam-packed crowd at the Gateway Mall 2 Quantum Skyview, which even saw some Honor of Kings fans watching from the upper floors, Boom reclaimed what it lost from last season as the all-Filipino club became the first team to capture multiple PKL chips.
Game 1 saw Boom keeping in control despite some mid-game threats from Flash PH with solid macro gaming before finishing the game barely 16 minutes in.
Boom became more aggressive in Game 2, scoring five kills within the first five and a half minutes, including four from Karl "Karlll" Bautista.
JM "Katsu" Sotto finally halted Bautista's kill streak, but it turned out to be a decoy as Phillex "Daniii" Bulanadi responded with a triple kill to further assert control for Boom, which eventually finished Game 2 off after a little over 13 minutes.
Boom was on the verge of going 3-0 up with a 6-5 kill lead and a 3,200-gold lead, but Flash PH began turning things around after winning a 4-0 clash exchange at the bottom lane while defending its inhibitor turret.
Boom still tried to steal the win when Bautista and Heri "Tatsurii" Garcia sneaked into the top lane and came halfway into destroying Flash PH's base.
However, the Flash players returned to their base just in time to kill both Bautista and Garcia.
With Chinese import Wen "GuXing" Guohao going legendary, Flash PH eventually got one game back before eventually tying the best-of-seven series up at 2-2.
In Game 5, though, a huge ace at the 11th minute, highlighted by a triple kill from Bautista, drew Boom to within match point.
With its back against the wall, Flash PH tried its best to defend its base even with all its turrets already gone, but a rush push finally put it away for Boom.
Despite finishing the regular season 8-1, Boom fell to the lower bracket after dropping a 3-4 decision to Flash PH in the upper bracket finals.
However, Boom dominated Blacklist International, 4-1, in the lower bracket finals to earn a chance to get back at Flash PH, which came from barely making the postseason right on the final night of the preliminary round to coming two wins shy of winning it all.
"Mas naging competitive (yung tournament). Ito rin yung tournament na mas nagpatinag sa amin as a team," said Miggie Banaag, whose team won US$11,000 (around PHP660,000) for ruling the PKL's third season.
Flash PH settled for the US$8,000 (around PHP480,000) runner-up prize, while Blacklist, whose bid for a perfect season was dashed in the lower bracket finals, still finished third despite relinquishing the national championship and won US$6,000 (around PHP360,000).
Boom, Flash PH, and Blacklist will represent the country in the Honor of Kings World Cup that will happen during the Esports World Cup in Riyadh over the mid-year.
Boom, though, will first see action in the HOK Challenger Cup from April 25-May 23 in China.
