Fighting with less pressure on their side, Bren Esports’ second five made sure to deliver the franchise its first win in MPL Philippines Season Nine on Friday night.
After dropping its first five games of the season, the M2 World Champion switched things up by fielding in reserves Muj “LORD MALIKK” Malik, Vincent “Pandora” Unigo, Dale “Stowm” Vidor, Jomari “Jowm” Pingol, and Allan “Lusty” Castromayor against Omega Esports.
“Yung Team A kasi parang nag o-overthink na sila sa mga nangyayari e,” said Pandora, who had an outstanding debut for the MPL Philippines Season Six champions.
“Kami kasing Team B, since Team B kami mas open kami sa mga options. Kaunti lang rin yung pressure sa amin, sila kasi sila yung main five e. So, mas pressured talaga sila,” he added.
The reserves shocked Omega Esports in Game One, opening up with a 12-2 stomp on the back of LORD MALIKK’s monster Aulus performance. The sophomore jungler had eight kills and two assists without a single death in 17 minutes and 14 seconds game time.
Bren Esports, however, failed to secure the sweep as Omega Esports ran away with a stomp of its own, 22-10, in Game Two which was marred by several technical difficulties and in-game pauses.
With the game tied at 1-all, Pandora, who already had a huge performance in the opener, stepped up for Bren Esports in the do-or-die Game Three.
Playing against the highly-favored Hylos of veteran Renz “Renzio” Cadua, the rookie exp laner, who has Esmeralda in his hands, spearheaded the tight 15-14 Game Three win in 21 minutes and 51 seconds.
Pandora played around his match-up, opting to join team fights instead of taking Renzio head-on. This gave Bren Esports the much-needed firepower to close out the series and seal its first win. He ended up with four kills and three assists against two deaths in the closer.
“Ginawa ko lang po kasi alam kong lugi akong match up nung Hylos saka sa Esme, ‘di ba lugi talaga si Esme,” shared Pandora.
“Mas tumulong na lang ako sa team fight. Kung papansinin niyo, sa isang clash doon si Hylos nasa side lang siya tapos apat sila. Kesa sabayan ko si Hylos, sumama na lang ako. Doon ako babawi [sa team fight] sa kanila,” he added.
Bren Esports now has two points through a 1-2 standing and will take on TNC on Sunday at 6:00 PM.
