Execration’s come-from-behind Game Two win shifted the momentum leading to a 2-1 reverse sweep of 496 Gaming to keep its The International 10 hopes alive in the Southeast Asia regional qualifiers, Thursday afternoon.
After a deflating Game One loss, Execration once again started flat against the lower division squad come Game Two.
Still, the Filipinos managed to stall the match long enough for Jinn “Palos” Lamatao’s Terrorblade to finally reach its maximum potential.
A clash entering the 57-minute mark, which had numerous buybacks and diebacks, saw Palos completely takeover — scoring a crucial Triple Kill which resulted in an uncontested Roshan take.
The former Vice Esports carry, who capped off the win with an Ultra Kill, tallied 18 kills and 19 assists against seven death. He also recorded a whopping 996 gold per minute in the 63:40-minute match.
That proved to be the difference as Execration scored the much-needed equalizer to send the series to a winner-take-all Game Three.
The LuponWxC-backed squad then made quick work of the Vietnamese in the decider, putting on a dominant 41-13 outing in just 32 minutes and nine seconds.
Yuri “Yowe” Pacaña had his best game of the qualifiers so far in Game Three with 12 kills and 17 assists against just two deaths on his death prophet.
Execration’s slump against BOOM Esports yesterday, though, carried over against 496 Gaming, dropping Game One via an 18-34 loss in 45 minutes and seven seconds.
Palos (Juggernaut) once again stepped up, keeping Execration alive through a 6-5-6 line, but Yowe (Puck) continued his struggles as he ended up with just two kills, six deaths, and 13 assists in the loss.
Execration will face the veteran-laden Team SMG later in the day while 496 Gaming became the first squad to be eliminated in the qualifiers.
