The OPs win over the GGEs after a hard-fought game: the slightly subdued SMSs are defeated by the CGGs; second slip of Macko who lose against AXL and Atleta beat EE within 30 minutes, condemning them to a solitary last place.
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The second week of PG Nats ends with some surprises and a mysterious prize promised to the Athlete by Deidara for having closed a game within 30 minutes. In fact, thanks to the “Durability Update”, the games have been extended, giving more value to those scaling comps that are so popular in competitive play, which, however, leads to busting schedules.
Yesterday’s last game, for example, started well after the indicated time precisely because the previous games lasted quite a while. But let’s move on to the recap, starting from the first game played at the “competitive advantage” (19:00).
ANc OutPlayed beat GGEsports in the opening game. A hard-fought game that saw the OPs start well thanks to a very aggressive comp to give the Lotus Karthus the way to climb better, without having to fear too much invasions by the enemy jungler. Everything seems to be going well and they even manage to snatch an early drake before not taking advantage of the already accumulated advantage. Thus begins a decline by the OPs who see the GGE not only remount but take the second drake, the herald, the first tower and finally also the soul. It is at the Elder spawn that the OPs roll up their sleeves and do what they do best, which is to go crazy.
And then we see a Stenbosse dive into the ancient dragon’s pit to buy time and give his companions a way to challenge him: the fight is won and so is the first important buff. At the second Elder it is Dehaste who goes mad by stealing the drake and killing the jungler, a condition that will lead to winning the game. The MVP is Dehaste who did not play the perfect match: Hungry Panda was clean in almost everything for that matter, but his initiative and courage are rewarded for having engraved in the fight that led to victory. Of course he also deserves to the enemy team, including Vyctor and FatShield by far the best performers in the GGE.
The second game has a less substantial recap, not because little has happened (indeed!) But because the Samsung Morning Stars without the Juniper buff (in cooldown) seem disoriented. Seriously, for SMS it starts badly with a CCG invasion around the 3rd minute when they grant a lot of resources to the enemy jungler, Ploxy, who will treasure them for his Wukong. A bad start is joined by a Kazuki who unfortunately can’t manage LeBlanc in the lane and can’t move properly, losing a lot of resources. As for the botlane on the other hand, Counter does what he can while Czypsy, totally out of phase, makes blunders and Conse has kept as long as he could. The only positive note is Noodle who with his Lillia, as usual, brings panic to the moor.
The CGG, on the other hand, played an impeccable game, just a few smears but the spearhead was certainly Six10’s LeBlanc (MVP of the game) which promptly made enemy carries implode or, in the worst case, forced them to return to base, preventing him from entering the fight and guaranteeing his team easy goals, such as at the end where strong Baron + Elder go to close the game.
The third game of the day sees the Macko against the Axolotl. Second slip for the MCK which, however, is not to be considered a wake-up call: they are a team that has monstrous individualities. ACD and HawHaw to name two at random, with huge champion’s pools allowing Coach Cristo to pull off absurd comps. The Axolotl, with their underdog charm, snatch the first victory that comes against one of those teams that are a solid reality. Unfortunately, however, there is not much to say about the game: ACD dominates the upper lane in the early stages of the game, Cboi manages to collect some goals but the middle and lower lanes are completely out of the game.
The AXLs dominate the other two lanes, strong of a Jaunatis with his Gwen Jungler who snowballs and of Skar, toplaner with Camille, who manages to impact the map more than ACD can, despite the latter’s advantage. The MVP will be Jaunatis who risks a pentakill at the end, even if Skar was able to psychologically resist an early traumatizing managing to create important advantage situations for his team.
The second week of the PG Nationals ends with Atleta Esports and Esports Empire. After yesterday’s forfeit, the Atleta return not only stronger but also more angry and show no mercy for the poor EE condemning them to a lonely last position, condition that, hopefully, will be able to wake them from the torpor that accompanied them in these first 4 days. First blood is shed on top: Gabbo is ganked by LeBron but sends the latter back to his own jungle with (Poppy’s) ult. Meanwhile MightyDragon takes advantage of the situation to go and help his toplaner who, to thank him, packs the kill on Gnar.
The game ends before 30 minutes and the MVP will be Xonix who dominated the middle lane first having a typical “Victor feeddato” mid-lategame: otherwise there is not much to add as the Atleta bot does not allow to that of the EE to breathe and the MightyDragon does not grant anything (perhaps 2 scuttles) to LeBron. Atleta prove to be THE team to beat at the moment, as their game is very clean and with few flaws, at least as far as they have shown to date.
The fourth day ends like this and with Deidara’s promise to give a mysterious gift to the Athlete … what will it be? Will he have scammed them or what else? We’ll see. Meanwhile, remember that next Tuesday will start the 3rd week of PG Nats, always at the “competitive advantage” (19:00) with the most anticipated opening match after OP vs Athlete, or Macko vs OutPlayed!