South Built Esports shot Naos Esports down in four games to emerge as the best team and win the VCT Challengers PH Stage 1 title on Sunday, Feb. 27.
South Built recovered from a first map collapse to dominate the rest of the way and secure the last three maps to put a stop to Naos’ stellar VCT PH run that saw it cruise to the Finale through the upper bracket.
The 9-3 curse proved to be true in the opening series as SBE started like a house on fire to take the lead at the first half on the attacker side. Naos, though, returned the favor and went berserk in the second half as it unloaded a 10-2 blast to steal the series, 13-11.
Papichulo anchored the comeback with 22 kills on the Cypher.
That, however, was Naos last taste of victory as SBE rode the momentum of its narrow 13-11 win in Naos’ map pick in Haven in Game 2. Azys showed way for SBE with 21 kills as he helped his squad fend off another late comeback attempt from Naos.
Feeling the momentum switching to its side, SBE showed no let up in Game 3 as it dominated first half of the map in Ascent to take a 9-3 win. SBE made sure to not repeat the same mistakes it did in Game 1 as after Naos stringed five straight round victories, it took care the next two to score a 13-8 triumph and take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
SBE made sure to not lost grip of the lead as it unleashed another blistering 9-3 first half in Naos’ map pick in Icebox to inch close to the title. Naos refused to go down without a fight as it went for a last-ditch effort after the switch, taking five of the first six rounds to cut the deficit down to two, 10-8.
JA and the rest of SBE however delivered in the crunch time with three straight rounds to take the VCT PH crown. He finished with series-high 28 kills and a 374 combat score.
The two squads will return to action as the country's representatives in the VCT APAC Challengers together with Action PH next month.