Nexplay EVOS survived a tight match-up against TNC, 2-1, for its fourth win in MPL Philippines Season Nine, Saturday.
The team, which now has a 4-2 standing, tied RSG PH (4-2) at the third spot with 11 points each.
Michael “MP the King” Endino went off on Karina in the early game, putting up four kills and two assists to give Nexplay EVOS a 6-2 advantage in the kill department in Game Three.
But that was not enough to push Nexplay EVOS to a snowball as TNC managed to hold the game to catch up.
A pick off on Jomarie “Escalera” Delos Santos’ Kagura through a Conceal play allowed Nexplay EVOS to secure the Luminous Lord uncontested entering the 17-minute mark.
TNC survived the siege, exchanging Mark “Kramm” Rusiana’s Dyroth for Jhonwin “Hesa” Vergara’s Brody. However, Nexplay EVOS was able to wipe all of TNC’s inhibitor turrets in the process.
TNC caught a break later in the match, taking out Rainiel “URESHIII” Logronio’s Esmeralda. The team eventually secured the next Luminous Lord, but Nexplay EVOS, led by Hesa, punished TNC and ended the match.
Hesa delivered seven kills and four assists against two deaths in the 18-8 Game Three win in 20 minutes and four seconds.
MP the King added five kills and eight assists against a death while Jeniel “YellyHaze” Bata-anon’s Cecilion collected two kills, a death, and 12 assists.
TNC looked like it was on the verge of a snowball in Game One after securing a kill on the King’s Lancelot and bagging the first Cryoturtle inside the first three minutes of the match.
Things took a sour turn for TNC, however, entering the five-minute mark.
Fighting for the second Cryoturtle, Nexplay EVOS was able to pick off Daniel “SDzyz” Chu’s Karina and then secure the objective to even things up.
From there, Nexplay EVOS won the next two skirmishes, including a four-man wipe in the middle lane that allowed them to take both the outside and inner turrets, to create a 4K separation in the gold department. The team then secured the first Lord to seal the stomp.
YellyHaze’s Selena paved the way for the stomp, dishing timely Abyssal Arrows in the crucial skirmishes that set the tone for Nexplay EVOS. He finished with nine assists laced with one death in the 15-3 Game One domination in 17 minutes and 52 seconds.
Meanwhile, Hesa (Popol and Kupa) owned the gold lane, finishing with a perfect 7-0-3 KDA line Kenneth “CADENZA” Castro had a game-high 13 assists playing Lolita.
Unlike in Game One, TNC actually managed to hold its early lead in Game Two. The team secured all three Cryoturtles and two Lords in the match to create a huge advantage against Nexplay EVOS.
The lack of team fights also prevented Nexplay EVOS from mounting a comeback.
SDzyz’s Lancelot, who racked up objectives that helped TNC build its lead, put up two kills and three assists in the low-scoring 6-2 Game Two win in 17 minutes and 52 seconds.
Despite the loss, TNC, who dropped to 3-3, climbed to the second spot with 12 points.
Nexplay EVOS will take on the top-ranked ECHO, who was coming off its first loss yesterday, on Sunday at 8:00 PM while TNC will fight Bren Esports earlier that day at 6:00 PM.
