THE LOYOLA Gaming (LG) Blaze (4-1) dominated the Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Technology iTamaraws (4-1), 13-3, and the Malayan Colleges Laguna Warlocks (3-2), 13-2, in their final group games of the Esports AcadArena (EAA) University Alliance Cup 2020 on November 18.
The two wins propelled LG Blaze to the top of the Group A standings and secured them an automatic berth in the semi-finals.
FEU Institute of Technology iTamaraws
Off to a shaky start, LG Blaze trailed the iTamaraws who gathered a quick 0-3 lead. However, those would be the only rounds that FEU would win as the Blue and White asserted their dominance to go on a 9-0 run. Their run was highlighted by Ignatius “1ge” Cu and Dominic “LG skwamy” Juan’s round 11 clutch play in a post-plant situation where they finished off four opponents in a 2v4 play. As a result, the Blue and White entered the half with a commanding 9-3 lead.
At the resumption of play, LG Blaze continued to overwhelm the iTamaraws with their swift plays and stellar coordination to break open a 4-0 run which sealed the win for the Blue and White, 13-3. With this victory, LG Blaze pushed past the iTamaraws for the top spot in the Group A standings.
According to Cu, the team’s comfortability with the map and their unwavering confidence in each other gave them the win. “I think what got us going after that shaky start was just talking to each other and hyping ourselves up. Also, the iTamaraws didn’t ban Bind which is our best map, which gave us more confidence coming into that game,” he said. “Overall we just had a really good mental the entire match,” the team captain added.
Malayan Colleges Laguna Warlocks
After a short break, the Blue and White faced off against the Malayan Colleges Laguna Warlocks. Riding off the momentum that they built in the previous game, LG Blaze only dropped two rounds to the Warlocks in the first half. Their stellar performance was highlighted by Raphael “LG raphitb” Santiago’s four kills in round 12 while also anchoring B-side. This gave LG Blaze a huge 10-2 lead entering the half.
In the latter parts of the game, the Blue and White’s sheer confidence and outstanding teamwork allowed them to finish off the Warlocks without dropping a single round, 3-0. As a result, LG Blaze claimed another win, 13-2, and secured the top spot in Group A at the end of the group stages.
For LG Blaze member Miguel “Rikes” B. Ulanday, the team’s excellent communication was vital to the Blue and White’s performance. “I feel that our coms [communication] was super good today which allowed us to execute better and overall, be more on point in our plays,” he voiced.
LG Blaze will now await the winner of the best-of-three quarter final matchup between the Malayan Colleges Laguna Warlocks and Mapua Gaming Society Spades. The quarter finals will be held on November 21, while the semi-finals is slated on November 22. Fans can stream the matches 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”
Jacy Iago Santos San Luis – “zigster”
