Neon Esports, with Rolen Andrei Gabriel “skem” Ong in the carry position continue to impress at BTS Pro Series: SEA Season 2.
After a rather unexpected second place in the group stage, the Filipino squad couldn’t keep on their upper bracket spot and were sent today into the survival mode of the lower bracket by BOOM Esports. Nonetheless, the brutal 0-2 defeat was quickly put aside as the first elimination match was scheduled for the same day. Neon’s first adversaries in the lower bracket were the much more experienced TNC Predator, who are yet to find their stride in online tournaments.
TNC’s only three victories through the group stage matches had them starting the playoffs from the lower bracket rounds, and although they passed the first series with a 2-0 over T1, the second match-up got them in trouble. Skem executed them in game one with a 37.5k net worth Ursa, on which he built an early Heaven’s Halberd to counter Kim “Gabbi” Villafuerte’s Slark.
Skem finished the game with an impressive 20/8/2 K/D/A, thus he got TNC’s undivided attention in the second game. He went with Ursa once again, but the counters were spot on from TNC, who had a Grimstroke to keep him controlled and a core Venomancer. TNC managed to push the series to a decisive game three and opened the last game draft with Queen of Pain, giving Neon Esports the option to focus counter her. Puck and Bloodseker were the two biggest answers, and along with a Grimstroke-Tiny combo, they managed to run over TNC forcing early fights mid lane to finish the game in under 30 minutes with 38 to 5 on the killboard.
While TNC have been eliminated in the top 6, the lower bracket battle becomes even tougher. Neon’s next battle will be held against Fnatic, who hold four tournament titles since the season shifted to online competitions. The series is set for tomorrow, June 19 at 09:00 CET/15:00 PST.
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