WITHOUT ADEQUATE teamfighting capacities, Loyola Gaming (LG) Esports succumbed to both the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Gearhawks, 0-2, and the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) Colleges Bravehearts, 0-2, in the opening weekend of the Esports AcadArena (EAA) University Alliance Cup (UAC) for Wild Rift last May 15 and 16.
Lagging behind
During the first match against TUP, LG’s Tony “TK” Kim’s signature Lee Sin pick—along with the global presence of Kyle “Koane” Ussher’s Galio—crippled TUP’s Baron Lane, establishing a lead early in the game. However, on the opposite side of the map, LG’s unattended Dragon Lane was susceptible to ganks from TUP’s Diana in the middle lane. By the mid game, LG Esports was rendered powerless to the massive Area of Effect (AoE) damage of TUP’s Diana, as the early ganks granted the enemy mid-laner quicker access to their core items. After losing several teamfights and eventually Baron, LG Esports was unable to defend their base and lost the first round, 0-1.
In the second game, LG Esports continued to struggle against the Gearhawks’ aggressive playstyle. Early in the match, LG Team Captain Paolo “Altershot” Riosa suffered multiple early deaths due to constant ganks from the enemy jungler in the Baron Lane. As a result, LG Esports faced a massive gold deficit of 8,000 gold even before the 10- minute mark. Upon reaching the latter half of the game, LG Esports’ insufficient gold and incomplete item builds caused them the final teamfight as TUP ended the second game, 0-2.
Miscalculated skirmishes
Facing the FAITH Bravehearts in day two of the competition, LG Esports became more aggressive on the offensive end with high assassination potential champions like Vi and Camille. However, their strategy failed as LG Esports’ ganks were put to a stop with FAITH’s swift counter-ganks. Since the Bravehearts were able to instantly protect their carries, LG Esports’ kill potential was heavily mitigated, eventually turning the skirmishes towards the Braveheart’s favor. In a final teamfight in the Dragon Lane, LG Esports was wiped out by the Bravehearts who ended the match shortly after, 0-1.
Entering the second match, LG Esports struggled once again against the Bravehearts’ teamfight-oriented gameplay. From the middle to late game, LG Esports was no match for the AoE crowd-control ultimates of the enemy Wukong, Braum, and Gragas. Even with Ussher’s Galio and Ren “Paradox” Manalo’s Lulu, LG Esports lacked the defensive capabilities to halt enemy advances. After LG Esports’ last stand at the Dragon pit, the Blue and White lost the match, 0-2.
Despite the back-to-back losses in the opening weekend, Riosa remained confident in the team’s capability to make a comeback in succeeding matches as they continue to learn from these experiences. “Coming from these past two games, these two teams were really strong teams, and we learned a lot coming from this loss. You can expect a better LG this weekend,” he shared.
LG Esports will aim to redeem themselves against New Era University on Saturday, May 22, 3:00 PM and the Philippine Normal University on Sunday, May 23, 7:00 PM. Fans can stream the matches on https://www.twitch.tv/acadarenaph.
LG Esports lineup:
Paolo “Altershot” Riosa
Tony “TK” Kim
Kyle “Koane” Ussher
Victor “Atryxiom” Daet
Ren “Paradox” Manalo
