By REYNALD MAGALLON
Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcase set the tone for Nexplay EVOS' dominant 2-0 sweep of RSG Philippines to open up the final stretch of hostilities in the MPL Philippines Season 8 on Friday, October 8.
With its playoffs spot already secured, Nexplay continued to roll in Week 7 by securing three points and rack up its total points to 21 and strengthen its hold of the third spot. It also spoiled the plans of RSG which was also vying for a place in the final six teams.
RSG’s playoffs hope took a hit after the loss as the maximum point it could get after the eliminations is now reduced to 19, giving teams who are sitting below them in the standings a window of hope to make the playoffs.
RSG actually had a solid start in the series but RENEJAY proved to be a torn to the side of the Changrok “Panda” Im-mentored squad.
NXPE’s “The Hitman” only had 2-4-2 KDA but he made the crucial plays in Game 1, first on his split push using his Benedetta which allowed NXP to negate RSG’s early game lead and stall the opener to a late game.
RENEJAY then made another clutch play in the final fight when he had a crucial backline dive to disrupt the positions of RSG players in that clash. That distraction allowed his team, led by Johnwin “HESA” Vergara on his Lunox, to wipe out RSG and end Game 1 in season-record 36 minutes with a low scoring 12-16 tally.
That was all the momentum NXPE needed as it embarked to a rousing 13-9 victory in Game 2 to close out the series. John Paul “H2wo” Salonga went wild on his Hayabusa with an 11-1-1 KDA to help NXPE bag the win in just 12 minutes of play.
With the loss, RSG now fell to the fifth spot of the standings with 16 points and is now pressured to win its last match against Onic Philippines to get a chance to make it to the playoffs.