Jankurt “KurtTzy” Matira may be the least talked about name in the star-studded ECHO main five, but his exhilarating performance in the opening week of MPL Philippines Season Nine proved that the team is more than just his well-known peers.
In the team’s MPL debut against Bren Esports, KurtTzy held the fort in Game One with a huge Vale performance that earned him eight kills and four assists against one death en route to the MVP plum. He then led the team in kills with five along with four dimes and a death in Game Two to seal the sweep.
And on Sunday night, KurtTzy showed his more aggressive side in the 2-0 win against Omega Esports.
Playing Eudora in the opener, KurtTzy helped set up the tempo with a Flicker-Electric Arrow combo that took out Kielvj “Kielvj” Hernandez early in the game. Indeed, it was a bold play. A far different version of the KurtTzy that we have been seeing in the past seasons.
The 18-year-old KurtTzy sustained the same form in Game Two, securing the crucial early kills on Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog (Mathilda) and Patrick “E2MAX” Caidic which dictated the tempo of the lopsided match.
When asked about his new playstyle this season, KurtTzy said that he had to adjust to his new teammates who are all very aggressive players. He also said that the arrival of Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera, Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, and Frediemar “3MarTzy” Serafico motivated him even more to work on his game.
“Opo dahil po sa mga bago kong teammates. Aggressive po sila kaya kailangan kong mag adjust,” said KurtTzy moments after
“Kasi po ano, sa past teams po nila ang lalakas po kasi nila kaya parang nabuhayan po ako don,” he added.
Aggro plays and initiations aside, what’s even more impressive was how he managed his deaths despite his aggression. In the team’s first two series which consists of four matches, the former Omega Esports EXP laner has only died twice. He has also collected 22 assists and 17 kills in the process.
As ECHO bulldozed its way to a 2-0 start, the 18-year-old pride of Batangas City showed that he’s more than just a complementary piece in the powerhouse cast.
The team is currently tied with TNC at the top spot with 2-0 records and six points each. They will take on TNC next for the pole position on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
