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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider ECHO's young guns Sanford, Sanji embrace spotlight in M4 World Stage

ECHO's young guns Sanford, Sanji embrace spotlight in M4 World Stage

Published Jan 14, 2023 11:52 pm

ECHO's young guns Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya and Alston “Sanji” Pabico didn’t shy away from the spotlight and even embraced it in the brightest of stages in the M4 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sanji (left) and Sanford (Moonton Photo)

The two players have been providing stellar performances for ECHO all throughout the tournament but nothing came bigger than their showing in the lower bracket finals against RRQ Hoshi.

Sanji and Sanford, more known as the San-San brothers, provided a deadly one-two punch and played pivotal roles in the 3-1 series win that forged a second straight all-Filipino Grand Finals in the M-Worlds.

Sanford, a 16-year-old EXP laner, outplayed his much experienced counterpart in RRQ’s Rivaldi “R7” Farrah, even dominating the veteran in their one-on-one skirmishes while also providing the setups during the crucial team fights for objectives.

The 17-year-old Sanji, on the other hand, managed to shine even with the presence of heroes that can dive into ECHO’s backlines and catch his mage picks.

Admittedly feeling the pressure from the gravity of the world stage as well as from the huge crowd rooting against them, the two players displayed poise beyond their years and just opted to focus on their respective games.

“Iniisip po namin na walang pressure yung kalaban para di po maapektuhan yung laro namin tapos nakakalaban po namin sila sa scrim and kinakaya naman po namin,” said Sanford.

“Naha-handle ko yung pressure kasi lahat ng mga kakampi ko parang kuya na sila lahat eh parang beterano na sa laro,” echoed Sanji.

Ecstatic after making it to the Grand Finals of the world stage right on the first try, Sanford, for a moment, was speechless as he tried to process everything especially playing in the tournament with a heavy heart after his father suffered a stroke just before he flew into Jakarta for the Worlds.

“Speechless po kasi ngayon ko lang po naramdaman yung ganitong feeling kasi first time ko lang din po sa world stage so parang wala po akong masabi,” said Sanford who earlier dedicated his performance to his ailing father.

Sanji, meanwhile, is determined to claim the title and finally exact revenge against Blacklist which defeated them in the MPL Philippines Season 10 Grand Finals and in the upper bracket finals of M4.

“Sobrang excited po para bukas kasi gustong gusto po namin bawian yung Blacklist,” said Sanji.

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Echo Sanji Sanford M4 World Championships
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