By: Jerod Orcullo
Team Liquid Philippines booked their ticket to the MPL Philippines Season 15 playoffs with a 2-1 reverse sweep against Twisted Minds, Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
Twisted Minds stunned Team Liquid in the first game as head coach Bonn “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza pulled out a Guinevere pick for Jomearie “Escalera” Santos. With the pick at hand, he earned MVP honors as he registered nine assists and two kills in the 20-minute and 34-second game.
After this game, Team Liquid head coach Rodel “Ar Sy” Cruz admitted that the team had to adjust their thinking in Games 2 and 3, suggesting that the players might have thought about Twisted Minds’ heroes rather than executing their own gameplan.
“Nung Game 1, siguro nag-overthink lang kami sa ibang hero tapos inadjust na namin nung Game 2 to 3 kaya ganun yung naging resulta,” Ar Sy said.
Team Liquid’s adjustments were on full display as it bounced back in Game 2 with a commanding display of mechanics, swiftly ending the game in just 12 minutes and 50 seconds.
To complete the reverse sweep, Team Liquid focused its attention on Jhonville “Outplayed” Villar as Twisted Minds’ gold-laner had already fallen three times at the 2:22 mark of the game.
Team Liquid snowballed and officially put an end to the series in only 10 minutes and 43 seconds of game time.
In Week 6, Team Liquid will face Smart Omega as it looks to extend its win streak to three in the headline match on April 5.
On the same day, Twisted Minds will seek to keep its playoff hopes alive as it battles Team Falcons at 5:00 p.m. on the same day.
