DESPITE DROPPING the crucial first game, the Loyola Gaming (LG) Blaze maintained their discipline and poise to overcome the Malayan Colleges Laguna (MCL) Warlocks, 10-13, 13-5, 13-10, in their Esports AcadArena (EAA) University Alliance Cup 2020 best-of-three semi-finals matchup on November 22. The win books them a spot in the finals against archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Viridis Arcus Esports.

LG Blaze started the match with an early 2-0 lead after Raphael “raphitb” Santiago scored an impressive quadruple kill in round two. However, LG Blaze was unable to maintain their momentum as the Warlocks retaliated with a 9-1 run capped off by consecutive flawless rounds in rounds nine and ten to end the half down six, 3-9.

At the resumption of play, the Blue and White tried to mount a comeback as they cut down the Warlocks’ lead, 10-12. However, LG Blaze’s valiant efforts were a little too late as they conceded the first game, 10-13, after the Warlocks closed it out via a clutch kill in a post-plant situation. 

In game two, LG Blaze adjusted by substituting rookie Jake “Jacques” Uy  for Raphael “raphitb” Santiago. This substitution proved to be the turning point as the Blue and White were able to dominate the first 12 rounds to go up, 9-3, entering the halftime break. After the break, LG Blaze continued the onslaught, with Uy, Janver Hugo “flacko” De Llamas, and Ignatius “1ge” Cu scoring double kills in rounds 15 and 16 as LG Blaze took game two, 13-5. 

In the third and deciding game, it was a back-and-forth affair all throughout the game as both LG Blaze and the Warlocks jousted for the lead. Despite Dominic “LG skwamy” Juan’s impressive knife kill in round seven and a triple kill in round eight, LG Blaze entered the half down two, 5-7. 

At the start of the second half, LG Blaze opened with two straight losses. However, LG Blaze trusted their rotations, continuing to execute their game plan to finally break through the Warlocks play. In the end, it was LG Blaze who emerged victorious as they finished off the match on a huge 8-1 run to complete the comeback win, 13-10.

According to Team Captain Cu, LG Blaze’s excellent in-game adjustments proved to be the difference as the team adjusted well to their opponents’ game style. “Overall, we did really well in recovering from the game one loss and adjusting to the Warlocks play style,” he voiced. “I’m looking forward to going [up] against DLSU since they beat us in the CVCI finals, and the team really wants to get revenge on them,” the team captain added.

The best-of-five finals match against DLSU will be held on November 28, 3:00 PM. The winner will get an opportunity to represent the Philippines in the PVP Southeast Asian (SEA) Championships to be held next month. Fans can stream the match on https://www.twitch.tv/acadarenaph.

LG Blaze lineup:

Janver Hugo C. De Llamas – “flacko” 
Joshua Miguel B. Ulanday -“Rikes”
Dominic Simeon Hebron Juan – “LG skwamy”
Louis Ignatius V. Cu – “1ge”
Raphael Santiago – “LG raphitb”
Jake Uy – “Jacques”