By Aeron Bautista
Smart Omega Esports denied Echo Philippines of a reverse sweep after emerging victorious, 2-1, following an intense, second game triple-header match on Saturday at the ICITE Auditorium in Quezon City.
The “comeback kings” demonstrated their veteran experience against the Orcas, who could have claimed their third win and a reverse sweep, undoing Omega’s sweep during the MPL Season 9 Playoffs.
Echo PH claimed the first match of the game, with Jaypee Dela Cruz’s roaming Natalia, leaving Dean Christian ‘Raizen’ Sumagui’s Ling nearly nothing to farm. Frediemar ‘3MarTzy’ Serafico’s Uranus also gave Echo the advantage, thanks to his hero’s health sustaining ability.
Coming back from the first match, Raizen went for a Thamuz, extending to their opponent’s jungle and trying to limit Justine ‘Zaida’ Palma’s Ling. But Zaida capitalized on getting kills and destroyed Omega’s outer turrets.
On the 22:02 mark of the game, a lord dance progressed. Team Echo tried to contest the lord against Omega. Maximizing E2MAX’s Faramis Cult of the Altar, Omega rushed their rivals, but thanks to Jaypee’s Diggie Time Journey, the Orcas were able to escape any crowd control ability from the side of Omega. Omega stole the Lord, but Echo reverse-rushes, killing three of five players.
Echo rushed to their rival’s base, hoping to sweep Omega, but the Lord spawned, leaving Frediemar “3MarTzy” Serafico’s Paquito alone. He successfully defended the base against E2MAX and the Lord, but Joshua ‘Ch4knu’ Mangilog’s Grock and Raizen’s Thamuz were coming for a backup and were able to extend the game to a third.
Renz “Renzio” Cadua mentioned how the Lord’s spawn denied the so-called “Super team” of their reverse sweep.
“’Yung nangyari po doon hindi po talaga namin expected. Tsamba lang talaga ‘yun. Akala kasi namin tapos na kami, tapos naka-tsamba si E2MAX,” he said.
During the match decider, Omega maximized Faramis’ Cult of the Altar again, while the Orcas utilized Jaypee’s roaming Natalia as well, despite Zaida’s Karina and Jankurt ‘KurTzy’ Matira’s Xavier providing burst damage for their team. Omega anticipated Natalia’s movement, while also taking advantage of Raizen’s Baxia Tortoise’s Puissance, giving Jaypee the struggle to lurk and attack.
Omega now has a 2-1 win-loss record, the same as Echo PH’s.
Smart Omega is set to face TNC on Sunday, August 21 at 8 p.m., the same time Echo Philippines takes on TNC.
