image credits: PGL
First day at the Manila Major playoffs started with the two upper bracket series MVP Phoenix vs Team Liquid, followed by NA’VI vs OG where the winners would secure top six at the last Major before this year’s International.
The Koreans pulled out an incredible team effort in the second game of the series to obtain a clean 2-0 victory against the main favourites for this tournament. Coming after a convincing game one, where they took down Team Liquid with a support Riki, and a game changer Tidehunter that delivered his Ravages when it mattered the most, MVP Phoenix ended up fighting for the second game win in a base race scenario.
In spite of their signature hero picks and their domination over the Korean team, Liquid was heavily outplayed towards the end of Similarly to the game when MVP was already defending against super creeps in both top and bottom lanes. Much more like what happened in the Mineski third game from the group stage, when MVP made a comeback from mega creeps, today they composed themselves and almost miraculously wiped the Liquid’s offensive. With Kuro Salehi 'KuroKy' Takhasomi’s team out of steam and buybacks, MVP marched all over the radiant base and are now the first team advancing into the Upper bracket semifinals.
“Is there a hero that Miracle- can’t play” was the first question raised by the panel after the first game of the series. A last pick Magnus for Amer 'Miracle-' Barqawi, to match Danil 'Dendi' Ishutin’s Tinker in mid lan, completely crushed the lane and put OG in a tremendous lead from the very first minutes. No rotations could save NA’VI from the empowered OG who found two - three men RP’s every time the spell was off cool-down and the game ended at the 33 minute mark with a final kill score of 24-6 in OG’s favour.
Although the second game was a bit more balanced it was once again Miracle- setting up the pace of the game with his Quas Wex Invoker and early Sun Strike kills while Johan 'N0tail' Sundstein- Lycan was continuously pushing. And despite a couple of good Chronospheres from Dmitry 'Ditya Ra' Minenkov that postponed NA’VI’s fate in their opening series in front of live audience at Mall of Asia Arena, OG didn’t allow the Ukrainians to push for a game three.
The day will continue with four merciless best-of-one games where four teams will end their Manila journey. Team Secret and Evil Geniuses will be protagonists of these games, but firstly compLexity will face Wings Gaming followed by Alliance taking on Philippine’s representatives, Mineski.
