ECHO handed Nexplay EVOS its fifth consecutive loss after scoring a 2-1 reverse sweep in the MPL Philippines Season 10 regular season, Sunday at the ICITE Auditorium.
The victory helped ECHO hike its win-loss slate to 5-2 while also ending the first round of the eliminations on a winning note.
ECHO dedicated the win to teammates Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya and Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales. The up-and-coming EXP laner is mourning the loss of his uncle while the veteran gold laner is currently going through personal problems.
“Yung problem ni Sanford is yun nga, last week sinabi niya sa atin is about sa tiyuhin niya. Wala na siya. Kahapon pa medyo out of focus na siya pero nag-tiwala sa kaniya, tinanong namin siya if ‘kaya mo ba Sanford’ tapos sabi niya ‘sige po kaya naman po,” said ECHO head coach Archie “Tictac” Reyes.
“Pinagbigyan namin siya pero nakita naman namin sa performance niya na out of focus siya. Pero yung respect namin is napakataas kay Sanford kasi even though na may problem siya, (sinubukan) niya pa mag-laro,” he added.
With the opening game already entering the 28-minute mark, Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcarse (Masha) came up big for Nexplay EVOS, securing a crucial kill on Jhonville “OUTPLAYED” Villar’s Beatrix. That, despite the presence of Mark Justine “Zaida” Palma (Balmond) and and Jankurt “KurtTzy” Matira (Yve).
A clash ensued after the pickoff with Mariusz “Donut” Tan (Clint) taking out Zaida in the process which gave John Paul “H2wo” Salonga (Paquito) to secure the final Lord. The team went on to complete the five-man wipe to end the match in 29 minutes and three seconds.
Jeniel “Haze” Bata-anon, who kept the team in the game after ECHO dominated the early game objectives, finished with six kills and 12 assists against one death on Xavier in the 28-19 Game One win. Donut added eight kills and 10 assists against two deaths while RENEJAY had 11 assists and three kills against eight deaths.
ECHO then tied the game after Zaida secured the second Lord of the contest during the 13th minute that gave them the advantage in the clash moments after where they scored a four-on-one en route to 12-5 Game Two win in just 14 minutes and 19 seconds.
OUTPLAYED (Claude) posted an efficient 2-0-10 KDA line in the victory while Jankurt “KurtTzy” Matira (Cecillion) had four kills and six assists against one death.
In Game Three, ECHO secured the Lord during the 14th minute to end the series.
Nexplay EVOS dropped its fifth straight outing to drop at 1-5.
ECHO will have a six-day break before taking on ONIC PH on Sunday at 8:00 PM while Nexplay EVOS will open its second round campaign against Blacklist International on Saturday also at 8:00 PM.
