Arvie “Aqua” Antonio executed a clutch Yin-Yang overturn in the final Lord dance in the deciding Game 3 to lift RSG Philippines past Omega Esports, 2-1, in the first round of the upper bracket playoffs in the Phase 2 of the Sibol National Team Selection on Thursday, Jan. 27.
Aqua, who has been brilliant all-series long, pulled off the huge play during RSG’s contest on Omega’s Lord take at the 23-minute mark of Game 3. The veteran midlaner then caught and burst down Jhonville “OUTPLAYED” Villa’s Clint and Patrick “E2max” Caidic’s Pharsa to give RSG the upper hand in the clash.
The rest of RSG then followed suit and went on to clean the remaining players of Omega to secure the Lord and score a wipe out to send Omega to the lower bracket following its 16-7 triumph in the decider.
Aqua went perfect in the crucial encounter with a 7-0-4 performance, a fitting follow up to his 5-1-3 line on the Kagura in RSG’s 14-8 Game 1 win.
It was RSG which came out firing in the series opener as Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto and the returning Christian “Iy4knu” Manaog conspired to draw the series first blood.
RSG got its hands on its comfort picks while throwing Omega off guard by forcing Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog to an unusual tank Minsitthar pick.
Demonkite on the Paquito jungle dictated the tempo with a perfect 3-0-5 showing while Iy4knu on the Popol and Kupa added a 5-2-4 score line.
Omega, answered back in the second game with its rookie Jhonville “OUTPLAYED” Villa stepping up to the plate using his gold lane Clint pick.
With the effective zoning of Ch4knu’s Jawhead and Renz “Renzio” Cadua’s Gloo, OUTPLAYED went uncontested in his farm and unloaded a 6-1-10 KDA to help Omega force the deciding Game 3.
Patrick “E2max” Caidic provided support with a 6-1-7 line on his Pharsa as Omega scored a 17-10 victory in Game 2.
Omega, showed resolve in Game 3 but the duo of Demonkite on the Hayabusa and Iy4knu on Brody was too hot to handle for the MPL S8 third placers. Omega initially survived the first Lord push thanks to the efforts E2max’s Pharsa but everything went down the drain after Aqua’s clutch play.
With the win RSG advanced to the second round of the upper bracket and will face the winner between Onic Philippines and Origen in the other bracket.