Twisted Minds sustained their early-season momentum, securing a third straight win after outlasting Smart Omega, 2-1, in Week 2 of the MPL Philippines Season 16 on Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
The rookie-laden squad now sits atop the standings with a perfect 3-0 record. Omega, meanwhile, fell to 1-2 but remained tied for third with Team Liquid PH and TNC Pro Team.
Head coach Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza lauded his team’s ‘next man up’ mentality, particularly in the decider when Omega target-banned Michael “MP the King” Endino’s comfort picks.
“Pag may isang player sa kanila na tina-target ban, sobrang nagse-step up yung mga remaining players na may mga natirang mga comfort heroes,” explained BON CHAN.
“For example nung Game 3 sobrang na-target ban si MP (the King) na yung napunta hero sa kanya totally hindi meta. Yung iba nakuha nila yung kanya-kanya nilang comfort, nag-step up naman sila.”
Twisted Minds set the tone early, as Mico “Nosia” Guevarra (Moskov) spearheaded a dominant Game 1 with a triple kill that sealed the 14-minute win.
Omega, however, answered back in a nail-biting Game 2. Czedrick “SUPER YOSHI” Romero (Yoshi) pulled off a clutch two-man I’m Offended set-up during the 23rd-minute Lord clash, setting up Salik “Hadji” Imam (Kagura) for a devastating four-man Yin Yang Overturn.
The sequence wiped out Twisted Minds in a 5-for-1 exchange, earning Hadji a maniac and tying the series.
In the decider, Nosia (Beatrix) and John Carlo “Caloy” Roma (Kalea) combined for early pickoffs that disrupted Omega’s rhythm, paving the way for a lopsided Game 3.
The duo tallied five kills and 10 assists between them, sealing the match with a swift 10-minute victory.
