Intense Semi Finals Round in NBA 2KL APAC Invitational

Intense Semi Finals Round in NBA 2KL APAC Invitational

Manila – Philippines – Intense is a word used to describe something closely contested.  The two semi finals contest between LGE Eagles vs Team Lock Up and LGE Agila vs No way Out can only be described as intense.

LGE Eagles vs Team Lock Up

The first match featured LGE Eagles vs Team Lock Up. The first of the Philippine representatives goes up against the first team from down under. Team Lock Up features a mix of NBA 2KL veterans and young guns willing to prove their worth on the international scene. LGE Eagles are made up of UAAP players and veteran NBA2K players in local Philippine scene. The first match looked like a barn burner of a contest.

LGE Eagle started out like a bat out o’ hell. they were cooking and put Team Lock out on the backfoot from the start, Baldhino and the rest of team lock up did put together a comeback and tried to rally to claw their way back into game 1. But the eagles had a different plan in mind. They kept their composure and continued with their game plan and won the first game easily.

The second game Team No Way Out tried to cool down the Eagles fast start. The Eagles once again had a fast start and was able to keep Team Lock out on the defensive. Timely three pointers by the Eagles was the undoing of Team Lock Up.

LGE Agila vs No Way Out

The second match was the return of No Way Out the defending champions, against LGE Agila. This match up has some history with some of the players from Agila lost last year to No Way Out and they were our for revenge.

The first match LGE Agila were shooting lights out from the three point range. The team was riding high on their emotion. Agila was applying vise like pressure to No Way Out. The first game was a one sided affair with No Way Out not being able to find their footing in the match. Match one goes the way of LGE Agila.

The second game started out almost exactly the same way as the first game. Agila was popping off again with their two guards leading the way. But this time No Way out made an adjustment and tried to clamp down on the Agila guards. The to pick and roll was popping off the second half with their captain Mona anchoring the center. The Agila boys did not have an answer to the pick and roll. Match two goes to No way Out 1-1.

The third match was a totally different game. The championship is on the line and the pressure is on. The Agila Boys still relied on their two guards, but they were changing it up. The guards we driving the lane and converting inside. No Way out was just simply relying on the good old pick and roll plays with their captain in the middle. The contest was np and tuck with less that 18 secs on the clock and the contest tied and ball possession going to No Way Out. It took a buzzer beater dagger 3 from the wing to seal the win for No Way Out advancing to the finals. What an Intense Semi Finals Round.

Post Match Interviews 

We met up with Ian Saranilla general manager of LGE about his thoughts on the Intense Semi Finals Round.

Q: First question, one of the two teams made it to the finals, how does it feel?

A: Yeah, for me it’s bittersweet because we really wanted a Philippines vs Philippines finals but as you saw, it was a great game. We lost by a last shot, last last-second shot. So at the end of the day, it’s still good for the community and it really shows how much effort the teams have given to reach this point today.

Q: So tomorrow, the Eagles will be placing No Way Out. Any extra motivation on the part of the Eagles to beat No Way Out?

A: Yeah, I think this helps because at the end of the day, although there are two different teams, we’re one LGE, we’re one company, we’re a bit together. And what hurts team Aguila hurts the Eagles as well. So yung kaagad na sabi nila, when they got back here, ah boss, babawian namin bukas. Yung kaagad ang sinabi nila.

Q: Considering that No Way Out is the defending APAC Invitational Champions, do you think there was added pressure for Aguilas to try and take down the defending champions?

A: I think pressure is really part of the industry. It’s part of what we do. And it’s a constant thing. This is a very competitive industry that we’re in. And I think it adds, but sometimes, I think it’s not a lack of preparation that happens. It’s yung talaga breaks of the game. It was a last-shot thing. The other team got the momentum late in the fourth quarter. But again, we lick our wounds, but we come back stronger after this.

Now this leads us to a more exciting championship round.