AP.Bren snapped a three-game skid with a 2-1 reverse sweep of Team Falcons PH in Week 3 of the MPL Philippines Season 16 on Sunday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
The Hive (2-3) climbed to solo seventh place in the standings, overtaking their victims and escaping the bottom.
Coach Jeffrey “Jeff” Manforte credited their bounce-back win to the team’s intense preparation following their stinging loss to TNC Pro Team the day before.
“Nagreview lang talaga kami kagabi. Prepared talaga kami ngayong week. Kahit sa TNC (kahapon) prepared talaga kami. Mas tinapangan lang talaga namin sa early team fights kasi tingin ko dun kami nagkulang eh. Feel ko rin kanina kaya namin iclose ng 2-0 kung di kami nagkakamali sa maliliit na bagay kaya nakacomeback sila (Falcons),” he explained.
Team Falcons initially looked poised for victory in Game 1, recovering from a 3,000-gold deficit thanks to Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano (Granger), who scored a double kill in the 10th minute. The sequence resulted in a 3-for-1 trade and a secured Lord, setting the tone for their comeback.
Super Marco carried the momentum into the late game, singlehandedly taking down two opponents during the Lord dance in the 18th minute to seal the opener for Falcons.
AP.Bren responded in Game 2, controlling the early stages, but James “Jamespangks” Mendoza (Suyou) shifted the tide. His game-changing triple kill sparked a complete wipeout that tied the series at 1-1.
In the decider, AP.Bren dominated the opening minutes and never looked back. Jamespangks tried to keep Falcons afloat with another triple kill in the 12th minute, but the Hive closed out with a 5-for-2 wipeout to secure the reverse sweep.
AP.Bren will look to sustain their momentum when they face Aurora on Saturday, September 13.
