Grace under pressure: Bren's mental fortitude reigns supreme

DEFENDING WORLD champions Falcons AP.Bren secured a slot in the MPL Philippines Season 14 upper bracket finals after defeating Blacklist International, 3-2, at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.

Blacklist International delivered a masterclass on discipline, not conceding any deaths with a flawless 16-0 kill score to stun Falcons AP.Bren in the opening game.

Falcons AP.Bren learned firsthand the cost of small mistakes and how they could not afford any slip-ups as the competition grew steeper.

“Kasi nakikita ko rin sa mga teammates ko parang tulog pa. Yung game one talaga kailangan namin i-reset yun para sa whole series maayos yung laro namin,” roamer Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo said.

“Sa ganoong pangyayari, kapag nagkamali ka ng ganoon, mahirap na talaga bumawi ngayon kasi lahat ng team talaga nakita niyo nag-step up. Kahit sinong kalaban, kapag may ginawa kayo sobrang mali, mahirap na talaga bumawi,” team captain Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel expressed.

“Depende na lang kung magkakamali din sila. Pero kontrolado, kontrolado nila yung lamang nila yung tsaka yung disiplina nila. Kaya wala na kaming chance talaga para makabawi noon,” he pointed out.

PHOTO: MOONTON Games

A champion's mindset

But Falcons AP.Bren refused to back down without a fight and managed to extend the series to a thrilling five-game series as a result of patience and mental fortitude.

“Siguro nung nakuha namin yung game two. Parang nasa amin na momentum nun. Nag-shift na sa amin yung momentum. Kaso nung game three na comeback kami. Maraming beses na nangyari sa amin yun na nasa disadvantage kami. Inisip na lang namin kaya pa rin namin laruin ito tapos kaya namin i-comeback,” Owgwen said, holding tight in the series to turn the tides to their favor despite having a rocky start against Blacklist.

Both squads displayed grit during the nip-and-tuck four-minute lord contention in game four. But the moment of truth arrived when Falcons AP.Bren found the perfect timing to mount a rundown against Blacklist, forcing a decisive fifth game.

“Para sa akin nung time na yun, inip talo kasi talaga. Kasi wala nang kwenta yung gold lead namin, pantay na yun. Tapos kahit nagpapakita yung Benedetta nila sa long lane, feeling namin di rin,” namin kayang banggain yung line up nila. Hindi rin kami makapag-lord. Tapos madali rin makasunod yung Benedetta. So hintayan lang talaga kami ng sinong lulubog, sino yung sinong unang mag-initiate,” Phew explained.

Falcons AP.Bren breezed past Blacklist International to secure a slot in the upper bracket finals, inching closer to making another grand final appearance.

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