By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen
Smart Omega pulled off a massive upset against Falcons AP.Bren, securing a 2-1 victory and claiming the solo lead in MPL Philippines Season 14 on Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
In the decisive Game 3, Smart Omega relied on the steady performances of Nowee “RYOTA” Macasa (Hylos) and Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog (Khufra), whose consistent setups were crucial in securing their second win of the series.
Ryota and Ch4knu were the immovable walls for their team, absorbing AP.Bren’s heavy damage output and keeping Smart Omega in control.
The pivotal moment came during the 23rd-minute Lord fight in Game 3. Jomari “Jowm” Pingol (Harith) picked off Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo (Jawhead) and David “FlapTzy” Canon (Terizla), allowing Smart Omega to secure the Lord and ultimately seal the game.
Ch4knu and Ryota finished Game 3 with a combined KDA of zero kills, 26 assists, and 12 deaths, while Jowm delivered an impressive performance with nine kills, nine assists, and four deaths.
“Actually, hindi ako makapaniwala na nagbubunga yung ginagawa naming hard work. Parang nananaginip ako kanina eh. Nasa harapan kami, [sinasabi ko sa sarili ko] ‘Totoo ba ‘to?’ Kase last season parang [naghahabol kami palagi], ‘Tas ngayon nagi-stay kami sa gitna. Parang akong nananaginip,” coach Lemuel “LEMBOT” Lucban said during the post-match interview.
On the other hand, Falcons AP.Bren had an opportunity to close out the game as early as the 13-minute mark, with Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson (Roger) snowballing through the mid-game. However, they struggled to pick off Smart Omega’s backline in the late game, which ultimately cost them the match.
Despite the loss, KyleTzy still delivered a standout performance, finishing with an impressive KDA of 11 kills, six assists, and three deaths.
Smart Omega will face Blacklist International next on August 23 at 7:30 p.m., while Falcons AP.Bren will look to clinch their first win when they take on Aurora on August 24 at 5:00 p.m., both at the same venue.
