Members of Team Polaris went into their final battles feeling disappointed but emerged joyful after they stopped Grindsky, 2-0, in the best-of-three finals series of the Predator League 2022-23 DOTA 2 Philippine Qualifiers Grand Finals on Sunday evening at the Mall of Asia Central Atrium, Pasay City.
The big plays of three members of the Philippine national team lifted the team up, along with a good game plan which allowed them to pull off a 38-22, 48-26 triumph.
Still exhausted after losing in another qualifier in Cebu City, members of Team Polaris finally hoisted the championship trophy with big smiles on their faces.
“Okay naman sila. Pero hindi sila 100% ngayon, dahil kahapon natalo sila sa finals ng T1 qualifiers,” said team manager Marvin Osorio, as Team Polaris eventually went home with the P200,000 first prize honors.
Former Team Sibol athlete Jan Anthony Vargas, also known as Natsumi, led Polaris’ efforts with Immortal hero Undying, which finished at Level 25 when it was over.
Undying usually serves as a lane support/tank role for the team and has abilities which allow him to harass enemies off the lane to secure space for his carry to farm.
Vargas emerged with 15 kills, four deaths and eights in Game 2 after Polaris routed Grindsky, 48-26, for the final win.
“Fight lang kami. Dahil alam namin na mananalo kami,” said the 21-year-old Vargas, who did a lot of heavy lifting by helping produce the needed resources early in the game.
After Sibol teammates Marvin Rushton and McNicholson “Lelouch” Villanueva rushed for kills to break and 8-all deadlock and grab a 14-9 lead in the 18 minute mark, Team Polaris took their time pull away, and were ahead by 28-17 on the 27th minute.
Lelouch was the second highest scorer in Game 2 (10-5-17).
Polaris gathered enough strength to destroy the final tower in the game at the 46th minute mark.
“Expected namin na lalamang kami dahil iyung hero ko ang nagke-carry (resources),” said Rushton, who utilized a versatile hero, Doom which can become a powerful late-game threat due to its ability to quickly farm.
Their fight with Talon Esports earlier sapped Polaris’ energy going into the Sunday’s semis and finals clash with their 2-3 setback on Saturday sending to The International 2022 finals in Singapore.
There was still tiredness in their eyes as Team Polaris also earned a slot with Grindsky to the Asia-Pacific Predator League 2022 Grand Finals, which returns with in-person matches on November 11 to 13 in Japan.
In reaching the finals, Grindsky early eased out Execration, 2-1, while Polaris won over Atomic Esports in the semifinals.