(courtesy of Riot eSports, flickr)
The king returns! XPeke is stepping in for Origen in crunch time. We spoke with OG general manager Marck "PapaBear" Hernandez to get the team's insight on the roster move.
After stepping back into a managerial role in the Origen franchise, Enrique "xPeke" Cedeño Martínez finds himself back on the rift for Week 8 of the European LCS.
The iconic stalwart of the European scene steps in for Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage, Origen's offseason acquisition from the Unicorns of Love. According to multiple published sources, Schrage contracted the flu while in Poland at IEM Katowice.
Marck "PapaBear" Hernandez, Origen's general manager, confirmed the reports about Schrage's health, and told me over Twitter that it would be more benificial for him to take whatever time needed to rest and recover.
"As you can imagine, being ill does limit his capability to perform at his best, and that's why Enrique and the team decided that he is the best option to substitute for Tristan until he is fully recovered."
Some pundits have questioned whether or not the substitution is indicative of more than just a temporary substitution, and may be a sign that Origen is weighing their options moving into playoffs. Origen has regressed slightly from their Worlds semifinalist form. As a team expected to run away with Europe this year, instead they're trying to work their way up from a fifth or sixth seed in the playoffs.
When asked if there is a chance this swap extends beyond Week 8, Hernandez responded,
"If the change will have a positive outcome, it is something we still need to determine, but everyone out there can be pretty sure that whoever steps up for Origen on that stage will do his best to perform the best way possible."
Though nearly all signs point to Origen's commitment to PowerOfEvil, it may be wise to keep all their options available. As Hai "Hai" Lam gave Cloud 9 the late season kick they needed to romp their way to a miraculous Worlds run last season, perhaps XPeke can light a fire in Origen that will allow them to find the consistency they have been searching for going into playoffs.
One thing is for certain, however. The European League of Legends Championship Series will be a little more hype this week.
