AFTER AN intense back-and-forth series, the Ateneo Blue Eagles submitted to Pylon Esports-Mittsu of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in the Philippine Collegiate Championship Season 3 Regional Cup National Capital Region Playoffs, 1-3.
The highly-anticipated Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) bout was held online earlier today, August 30.
Despite the loss, gold laner Sean Antolin was a bright spot for the Blue and White, securing Most Valuable Player honors in Game 2 after a 5/0/6 kill-death-assist ratio using Irithel.
Game 1
Entering the Land of Dawn with hopes of getting the upper hand, Ateneo came out of the draft with a scaling composition centering around Team Captain Aaron Sze’s Masha. Coming out swinging, the Blue and White secured an early laning stage advantage after Gabriel Mañalac’s Zetian drew first blood midlane.
The Blue Eagles continued to push their advantage by asserting early map control, securing two Turtles and applying pressure on other parts of the map courtesy of Angelo Olvida’s Chip. Despite securing the early objectives, Ateneo allowed their opponents to get back into the game after conceding early pickoffs on Sze and Nathaniel Olpinda’s Fredrinn.
As the match progressed into the midgame, the first teamfight proved costly for Ateneo as Pylon’s teamfighting wiped the entire Blue and White ranks and secured themselves the Lord. The Katipunan-based squad was unable to prevent their opponents’ lead from snowballing, losing one more teamfight at the top lane and conceding the first match .
Game 2
Looking to take their first victory of the series, Ateneo commenced the match with renewed vigor. In the early stages, both roamers were immediately cancelled out in a one-for-one exchange at the midlane, with the Blue Eagles’ early kill snowballing into initial confidence throughout the game’s opening minutes.
Banking on this momentum, the Katipunan-based squad managed to take down three members of Pylon en route to securing the first Turtle of the match, gaining a 2,000-gold lead. Mañalac and Nathaniel Olpinda, using Kadita and Alpha, led the Blue Eagles throughout the early game with timely kills and assists.
The succeeding ambush in the top lane saw Ateneo succeeding in quick pickoffs of PUP’s heroes and inevitably taking down the first turret up top. With a huge 7,000-gold advantage, the Blue Eagles wasted no time in taking down all but two of Pylon’s towers and the first Lord by the ninth minute.
After finding another opening at the bottom lane, Olvida initiated a clash as the rest of Ateneo’s squad proceeded to take down four members on the side of PUP. Antolin’s damage proved to be too much for their opponents as the marksman’s veteran experience aided in doing much of the damage towards the Sta. Mesa-based side.
Without having to bank on the Lord towards their push to Pylon’s base, the Blue Eagles swiftly took down PUP’s inhibitor turret to secure the win and tie the series at 1-1.
Game 3
Seeking to secure series point, Ateneo continued its aggressive early game strategy after another first blood from Mañalac’s Zhuxin. However, Pylon Mittsu was able to keep the Blue Eagles at bay, securing the first Turtle of the match.
The pace of the game continued to quicken as another teamfight occurred two minutes later. Despite Ateneo’s Olpinda securing a pickoff with his Claude, PUP was able to respond to the Blue Eagles’ aggression, scoring two kills of their own and subsequently taking another Turtle for themselves.
Not wanting to be left behind, skipper Sze then took matters into his own hands, as although his initiations with Arlott had varying results, his efforts allowed the rest of the Blue and White to continue farming the map.
Despite the Katipunan-based squad’s best efforts, a costly fight at the top lane allowed Pylon to secure the momentum and two successive Lords, conceding a series point.
Game 4
With their backs against the wall, the Blue Eagles needed a win to extend the series to a deciding fifth game. However, Ateneo was immediately bombarded as PUP made their presence felt with Jz’s Joy drawing first blood in the top lane. Pylon continued to dominate the early game, winning a clash by the Turtle, with their Joy leading the way to secure the first objective.
To Ateneo’s dismay, another skirmish in the midlane went in favor of PUP, with their Hylos’ Glorious Pathway allowing Pylon to boost through and gain a 4,000 gold lead over the Blue and White. The Sta. Mesa-based squad then proceeded to take the Lord in the ninth minute after having wiped out all but the inner towers of the Blue Eagles.
Pylon’s ensuing push towards the inhibitor turret caused Ateneo to be with just Antolin, Olvida, and Olpinda left to defend the base against both PUP’s heroes and the Lord. However, in what turned out to be a gallant stand against Pylon, the Blue Eagles managed to successfully kill the opposing Lord and stave off PUP’s attack.
Despite this valiant effort, Ateneo was unable to capitalize on the absence of the opposing Moskov after already suffering from a sizable gold gap. After deciding to leave the second Lord unchallenged, PUP managed to take the objective in the 12th minute.
In contrast to their previous encounter defending their base, the Blue Eagles were unsuccessful as Pylon managed to take down the defenders and finish off Ateneo just before the 14th minute and secure the series 3-1.
With promising results, the MLBB team aims to build on these experiences and continue ramping up their preparations for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 Esports Tournament.
Ateneo Blue Eagles roster:
Team Captain, EXP Lane – Sze, Aaron Yuk (FUNDYJAGO)
Gold Lane – Antolin, Sean Archer (Bow.)
Mid Lane – Mañalac, Jason Gabriel (Haikei)
Roamer – Olvida, Angelo Fernan Yvez (ZURIXXX)
Jungler – Olpinda, Nathaniel Andrew (NATTT)
Substitute, Mid Lane – Nera Jr., Zosimo (NERA)
