picture courtesy of PGL
In a rather one-sided best of three series, Team NP took a 2-0 victory over Invictus Gaming to eliminate the Chinese team from the Manila Masters.
After a small hiccup in their series versus Team Secret yesterday, Team NP were looking to continue their strong showing but in their way stood the DAC 2017 champions, Invictus Gaming. iG were not looking to be on top form since their victory earlier this year but would be hoping to turn that around.
Game One
iG managed to claim first blood just prior to 2 minutes as Ye 'BoBoKa' Zhibiao rotated around to the bottom lane to help secure the downfall of Arif 'MSS' Anwar on the Enigma. iG continued to pressure the NP line up for the first ten minutes, as they took a 4-1 kill lead. But this pressure did not last long as NP found a great opening when the Radiant team over extended and fed 3 kills to the Dire side. And with that, NP looked to have found their way into the game as they managed to claim another few kills soon after.
After twenty five minutes, while NP had claimed an aegis, the game seemed fairly even as both teams traded kills around the map – however, NP had taken down all tier 1 towers from the Radiant’s side and a tier 2 in the top lane. With that advantage NP managed to take full control of the game and as iG ran at them and lost 4 heroes in quick succession, NP were assured victory.
With no hope to come back in sight iG had no choice but to call GG, giving NP a 1-0 start to the series.
Game Two
After what could only be described as a perfect game from NP in the first game, iG would need a victory to avoid elimination from the tournament. First blood this time went over to MSS on the clockwork, who proceeded to claim a 2nd and 3rd kill on Zhany 'Q' Yi's Disruptor a few moments later, as they looked to secure their spot in the next round. After ten minutes NP held a 3-1 lead with all their kills on MSS while all 3 deaths were the Disruptor.
While NP looked to have some good control as twenty minutes approached, iG were not completely out of the game just yet as the gold and net worth charts remained even. But with just under twenty minutes having passed, NP showed their dominance with a full team wipe deep in the Radiant's jungle. NP now looked set to take the series with ease as they moved up to the high ground and dropped the tier 3 mid tower.
With forty minutes passed, NP claimed a second aegis and marched back down mid to secure the barracks. With a last ditch attempt to stay in the game, iG burned through countless buybacks to defend their tournament hopes but it was not to be as Team NP constantly found kills and claimed mega creeps.
And with that, GG was called by iG which secured a 2-0 sweep for NP and their spot in the next round of the lower bracket at the Manila Masters. Unfortunately for Invictus Gaming, their road to their former DAC glory days would not continue at this event.
Team NP will face the winner of the next match, OG versus Team Faceless.
