Philippines Rattles in Groups, WB Slot in Jeopardy
Philippine team, Inter Active Philippines.Execration (IAP.XCTN) rattles in the group stage of the Local Area Network (LAN) finals of StarLadder X.
IAP.XCTN, the sole representative from Asia, ends the group stage with a 1-2 standing, relying on chance for a winner’s bracket slot in a possible three-way tiebreaker round.
“We’re (sic) just waiting for the game of Team Secret and Na’Vi. If [Team] Secret loses, we’re going to [the] losers bracket, and if they win, we will be having a 3-way-tie, I guess,” said Earlwin “Ewe” Libre, off-laner of Team IAP.XCTN in an interview with Esports Inquirer.
If Team Secret, the undefeated team in Group B with 2-0 standing, defeats Natus Vincere (1-1; Na’Vi) later this afternoon, there will be a possible three-way tie between Na’Vi, Virtus.Pro (1-2; VP) and IAP.XCTN (1-2). And if Na’Vi defeats Team Secret, both teams will secure the winner’s bracket slot while IAP.XCTN will be placed in the losers bracket, securing third place in the groups.
The top two of each group will be seeded in the winner’s bracket while the bottom two will be put in the loser’s bracket.
Current group standings (Photo screen captured from joinDOTA).
Going into the tournament as the underdogs, the Philippine team pulled out some plays from their sleeves as they exemplified early game dominance in all their matches. However, the middle to late game transition has been their weak point throughout the group stage.
They lost their first game against three-time grand finalist of The International, Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), amid great early game performance followed by their convincing triumph over Russian flag bearers, VP, in a 33-minute game.
In their last match against Team Secret, which seemed to be the best game for the Filipinos — inches away from securing a winner’s bracket slot — ended in a drastic comeback by the Europeans.
Early in the match, IAP.XCTN secured the first blood out from a wonderful fissure block by IAP.XCTN Kimuel “Kim0” Rodis’ Earthshaker before the horns were blown (signals the start of the match with the spawn of minions or creeps). By the 10th minute, IAP.XCTN led with 10-4 kills, destroyed three Tier 3 towers (outermost towers), posed a 6,500 team gold and 900 experience difference. IAP.XCTN sustained their aggression coming in to the middle game, constantly picking off enemy heroes and destroying two Tier 2 towers, 17 minutes into the game. However, by the 25th minute, through crucial clashes and important pick offs, Team Secret slowly gained the upper hand. The Filipinos didn’t give up, finding trades and forcing pushes cutting the enemies’ gold lead by 4,993 from 7,021 by the 37th minute. But the important item pick-ups and proper coordination, secured the victory for Team Secret – ending the 52-minute game with 33,000 gold lead and ahead of 42,399 experience – dubbed as the “comeback boys.”
“They were too skilled. We did our best and everything we can do,” Ewe said. “I guess, it’s not the time for us to win. Exp-exp muna (Gain experience first).”
The rest of group stage matches will be played later today (around 2:00 p.m. Philippine time) to determine the final seeding of the teams, followed by the two best-of-three matches in the winners bracket.
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