Banking on its star carry Mark Anthony "Natsumi-" Vargas anew, Neon Esports emerged as the first team to enter the upper division of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC)-Southeast Asia Regional League after crushing Vice Esports, 2-0, in the second round of the Closed Qualifier Stage 1 on Tuesday.
Natsumi-, a former member of the SEA Games gold-winning team Adroit Esports, came through with monstrous performances on his Wraith King and Ursa in the two swift victories.
Neon joined Filipino powerhouse TNC Predator, Fnatic, BOOM Esports and T1 in the upper division, leaving only three slots for the seven remaining squads in the qualifying tournament.
Natsumi- posted 13 kills and 12 assists against a lone death on his WK in Neon's 42-5 Game 1 stomping of Vice in just 30 minutes.
The 19-year-old carry continued his stellar play as he racked up 20 kills and 12 assists against two deaths in another lopsided victory in Game 2, 44-12, that lasted for 34 minutes.
Steady midlaner Erin Jasper "Yopaj" Ferrer was also instrumental in the series triumph, with his Batrider tallying an 11-1-16 kill-death-assist record in the opener and his Puck putting up 14-2-18 in the clincher.
Natsumi- also powered Neon to a 2-0 sweep of his former teammates in Smart Omega, which picked up the roster of Adroit following its closure, in the first round on Monday.
With the loss, Vice fell to the lower bracket round two and is set to battle the winner between Team SMG and Galaxy Racer for a seat in the upper division on Thursday.
Earlier, Execration thrashed Galaxy Racer, 2-0, to set up a duel against Vietnam's 496 Gaming for an upper division spot.
As of posting time, Execration and 496 Gaming are clashing in a best-of-three duel.