Nexplay Evos prevailed over Onic Philippines, 3-2, in the grueling five game series in the lower bracket semifinals of the 2022 Sibol National Team Selection on Saturday, Jan. 29.
John Paul “H2wo” Salonga and Jeniel “Yellyhaze” Bata-anon made the big plays in the crucial moments to help the squad overcome the fancied ONIC PH and arrange an upper bracket finals duel against RSG Philippines
NXPE gave Onic PH a dose of its own medicine in the deciding Game 5 as it seized control of the match through its objective-centered gameplay, even taking a 6-0 kill lead along with Onic’s outer and inner turret in the top lane just inside the first six-minute of the game.
Fighting for survival, Onic PH tried to rally back with some key pick offs on some of the NXPE players.
NXPE, though, managed to catch Flick’s Paquito out of position near the mid-lane which initiated the final clash of the match.
Onic was forced to counter engage but NXPE responded well as H2wo on the Hayabusa secured three straight kills, allowing NXPE to score a wipeout and end the series with an 18-9 Game 5 win.
H2wo, saved his best in the last game of the series with a near perfect 7-1-4 KDA while Yellyhaze capped a series-long brilliance with a 4-2-7 line on the Mathilda.
It was also Yellyhaze who set the tone for NXPE’s victory as his stellar Mathilda gameplay in Game 1 gave his squad the first point of the series following 10-4 triumph over Onic.
Yellyhaze dictated the tempo as he put up a perfect 4-0-4 performance while Mariusz “Donut” Tan provided support with a 2-0-4 KDA on the Wanwan.
Onic punched back in the second game as Flick redeemed himself from a lackluster Game 1 showing with an impressive 7-1-4 performance on the Fanny. Onic had to survive another blistering start from NXPE before Flick carried the squad in the mid-game en route to a 13-12 Game 2 win.
It was a see-saw affair from that point as both squads exchanged one-sided wins.
Game 3 went to NXPE’s favor with Donut on the Brody and Yellyhaze on the Cecillion conspiring in the 24-11 win. Yellyhaze unloaded a near-perfect 3-1-18 KDA on the Cecilion while Donut led in kills with an 8-3-7 score line.
Onic answered back in Game 4 as the M3 representatives went back to what it does best. With its patented split push strat Onic PH forced the winner-take-all in a low scoring 6-6 affair.