Up-and-coming Neon Esports lorded over the local Dota 2 tournament PNXBET Invitationals and bagged the P100,000 champion's prize after dismantling Smart Omega, 3-1, in the grand finals on Thursday night.
Neon struck back hard following a Game 1 loss as it pulled out solid drafts before executing them to perfection to rule the eight-team tilt organized by Dota 2-centered media company Lupon WxC.
Coming off a sweep of Vice Esports in the lower bracket finals, Omega drew the first blood in the best-of-five tussle behind Sandro "Luciano" Aguinaldo's monstrous Mars who finished with a flawless record of nine kills and 14 assists.
But Neon was quick to tie the series with midlaner Erin Jasper "Yopaj" Ferrer's Queen of Pain dominating Game 2. He tallied 13 kills and 10 assists against four deaths.
Jaunuel "Jaunuel" Arcilla then proved to be the crucial cog in Games 3 and 4 as he flexed his mastery of Timbersaw on an unconventional position five support.
Team captain Prieme Ejay "PlayHard" Maque (position four support), Andrei "skem" Ong (carry) and Julius "JG" Galeon (offlaner) are the other members of the Neon squad.
Omega brought home P35,000 while the tournament's dark horse Vice Esports, which stunned Execration, 2-0, in the lower bracket semifinals, got P15,000.
Adroit Esports, InterActive Philippines, Amihan Esports and God of High School led by Julius "Julz" De Leon were the other participants in the event, which aimed at discovering local talents in Dota 2.