Proper drafting in Game 5 helped ECHO avert an embarrassing reverse sweep. But some fans think getting pushed to the brink of elimination was their own doing.
It seemed that ECHO's unbeaten run in the M4 World Championship was set to continue flawlessly against Malaysia's Team HAQ on Saturday.
The loud and proud Orcas, who swept the group stage, started their upper bracket run in dominant fashion, taking Game 1 in 24 minutes. Then, they outdid themselves and won Game 2 in just 12 minutes.
Team HAQ, however, turned the tide and took Games 3 and 4 to force a do-or-die game — which frustrated fans.
Some ECHO followers believe that the team strayed away from its drafting strategy that won them the first two games, with a handful accusing them of doing an "experiment" right in the middle of the playoffs.
But come Game 5, all the worries were cast aside as ECHO took care of THQ and showed why they are one of the best teams in the tournament.
What made them win the decider? Funnily enough, it's the draft.
ECHO's Tristan Cabrera, better known as Yawi, said that the difference in Game 5 was their adjustments in drafting and banning heroes, a coaching directive by assistant coach Trebor Sanchez.
“May sinuggest si Coach Treb (Trebor) na adjust sa draft. Tapos, sobrang luwag noong draft namin kaya gumanda execution — execution ng gameplay. Tapos. Ang bilis ng laban,” said Cabrera post-game.
These comments from Cabrera only seems to have given credence to the fans' source of frustration.
Whatever really happened in those two losses, Cabrera said they never lost their confidence. “Lahat kami confident na kami mananalo. Pilipinas lang malakas.”
ECHO now advances to the upper bracket semifinals and will face Indonesia’s ONIC Esports, which features Filipino import Kairi Rayosdelsol and Filipino coach Yeb Miranda.
Aside from two powerhouses, this matchup will also tout the battle of KarlTzy versus Kairi – a match MLBB fans have been waiting for since they last faced each other in Season 9 of MPL Philippines.