THE ATENEO Blue Eagles fell to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 0-2, suffering another blow in their adversity-riddled campaign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament. The match took place yesterday evening at the Quantum Skyview Deck of the Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City.
Game 1
Following yesterday’s loss, the Blue Eagles chose heroes that had the potential to benefit them during team fights. While aiming for the edge, the Katipunan-based squad was zoned out by the Tamaraws, resulting in them losing the Turtle. To make up for the lost objective, Ateneo secured two kills after the Turtle fight to even the Tamaraws in gold.
Following Ateneo’s two kills, however, the Tamaraws took down Floryn-using Blue Eagle Angelo Olvida in the jungle, placing the Blue and White at a 400-gold disadvantage. Looking to bank on their edge in team fights, Atenean Kyle Calub used Baxia in an attempt to win the second Turtle. Despite the Blue Eagle’s efforts, the Tamaraws ultimately gained the objective that put the Blue and White at a 1,200-gold deficit.
Facing a big gold disadvantage, the Blue Eagles immediately took down an FEU turret and won a skirmish in the jungle. With their newfound confidence, the Blue and White fought for the third Turtle, but good zone control by the Tamaraws prevented them from getting the objective, increasing their deficit further to 2,500.
With the massive disadvantage, the Blue and White found it difficult to defend their lanes, as only inhibitor turrets were left to protect the Katipunan-based squad. The Blue Eagles suffered another lost objective, as the Tamaraws managed to get the first Lord of the game.
Although holding the advantage in team fights, the Blue Eagles failed to utilize this trump card as FEU brilliantly zoned them out. Struggling to break through the Tamaraws, the Blue and White lost the second Lord, with their opponents keeping them at bay.
Now facing an insurmountable 9,000-gold deficit against the Tamaraws, the Blue Eagles lost all their inhibitor turrets as FEU’s Lord became too much for the Katipunan-based squad to handle. With the loss of their inhibitor turrets, Ateneo’s disadvantage ballooned to 10,000, with their opponents having full builds.
The Blue and White eventually did not contest for the third Lord, following the death of their jungler, Kyle Calub. As soon as the Lord spawned, the Blue Eagles bowed down to the Tamaraws with a final kill score of 7-8. Tamaraw Dashmielle Farin received Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game honors with a kill-death-assist score (KDA) of 5-0-3 using Suyou.
Game 2
In Game Two’s draft phase, Ateneo once again targeted Farin, banning five of the jungler’s pocket picks. Showing the same respect, FEU finally denied Ateneo Floryn after witnessing its effectiveness in the previous map.
Upon entering the Land of the Dawn, Ateneo had clear intentions to banner a more aggressive team composition, as the team looked to retaliate and put FEU on the back foot. The Blue Eagles’ upped aggression was displayed early during the first Turtle fight, when skipper Calub successfully forced FEU to retreat despite losing the objective.
Despite the temporary win, Ablanida’s Cecilion went unpunished, freely stacking the Overflowing passive in lane as Ateneo failed to disrupt his growing advantage. The Blue and White’s worries about the mid-game then materialized around the five-minute mark, when Ablanida outplayed their frontline by utilizing his teammates’ heals. Although the Blue Eagles quickly picked off the FEU EXP laner shortly after, the Tamaraws had already held a dominant 3,900-gold lead by 6:30.
The lead later ballooned to 5,700 as the game went on, with FEU easily dispatching the Ateneo squad through swift map rotations. Meanwhile, Wage’s Granger continued shredding the Blue and White’s frontline. After taking a Lord and two inhibitor turrets, FEU looked to coast to the end game in style as they held an enormous 11,200-gold lead. While Ateneo briefly fended off their opponents with their ultimates, the Tamaraws later breached through the Blue and White base again, sealing the victory in 14 minutes.
Eager to get their first win, the Blue and White will look to stun the undefeated University of Santo Tomas Teletigers Esports Club tomorrow at 10:00 AM, at the same arena.
Hero lineup:
Aaron Sze (EXP Laner) – Cici, Gloo
Kyle Calub (Jungler, Team Captain) – Baxia, Lukas
Zisu Nera (Mid Laner) – Cecilion, Zhuzin
Joshua Rodas (Gold Laner) – Harith, Harith
Angelo Olvida (Roamer) – Floryn, Badang
Group B Standings (Points Overall):
- UST Teletigers Esports Club: 2-0 (6)
- AdU Soaring Falcons: 1-1 (3)
- FEU Tamaraws: 1-1 (3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles: 0-2 (0)
