Week five of the CWL Pro League is already filled with storylines. Reigning champions Luminosity Gaming seek to bounce back from their day-one loss. Evil Geniuses look to prove that they even belong in the Pro League. All these matches will determine which teams need a roster change during the upcoming roster transfer period in April. Check this article for the previous day’s recap.
Day 2: Tuesday, March 26
Team Heretics vs. Evil Geniuses
Series scoreline: 3 – 2 Team Heretics
- Hardpoint (Frequency): 250 – 198 (Evil Geniuses)
- Search and Destroy (Gridlock): 6 – 5 (Evil Geniuses)
- Control (Frequency): 3 – 0 (Team Heretics)
- Hardpoint (Seaside): 250 – 143 (Team Heretics)
- Search and Destroy (Frequency): 6 – 4 (Team Heretics)
Team Heretics still got it, going back to the basics to pull off the reverse sweep. Their explosive, challenging playstyle was similar to their opponents in blue. What the Spanish did differently was play their lives and map control much better. Even though Team Heretics are comfortable taking gunfights, they still value their lives which allows for faster reinforcement on objectives. Just as well, even after losing site control, Team Heretics make it a point to maintain map presence, pinning their opponents into a small area. The Spanish enjoy a win.
.@TeamHeretics have forced the #Game5Alert vs @EvilGeniuses! https://t.co/NKHQSgV6Gh #CWLPS4
Take a listen to their Seaside Hardpoint comms in the @ASTROGaming Listen-In. pic.twitter.com/1h71ElTscn
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) March 26, 2019
Evil Geniuses lack discipline, showing this flaw in both their micro and macro play. The potential reason why EG fail to close out the series is due to a lack of direction. The squad understands how to play the game, relying on rotations, holds, and team fights. The problem lies in the fact that players get overzealous leading to solo challenges and undecisive mid-round rotates. Evil Geniuses’ wolfpack and duo shot properly, but at times, are just a little out of pace, resulting in lost gunfights. The talent is definitely present, but Evil Geniuses are in desperate need of a strong directing voice.
MVP of the series: Adrian “MeTTalZz” Serrano
Despite going down early in the series, MeTTalZz maintained strong play throughout all maps. While his other teammates fluctuated in performance, MeTTalZz constantly put up decent numbers that allowed Team Heretics to remain in the series
eUnited vs. UYU
Series scoreline: 3 – 0 eUnited
- Hardpoint (Arsenal): 250 – 239 (eUnited)
- Search and Destroy (Payload): 6 – 5 (eUnited)
- Control (Gridlock): 3 – 0 (eUnited)
EUnited impressed on the stage today. This series has shown that the squad is still clutching with increased firepower. They constantly put pressure on their opponents in both respawns and search and destroy mainly due to the SMG frontline. This change allows James “Clayster” Eubanks and Preston “Prestinni” Sanderson to play more comfortably. This change does mean that Prestinni and his brother Alec “Arcitys” Sanderson don’t put up MVP numbers. However, with a strong slaying force, they make up for it with smart flank plays and solid site control, respectively. Clayster especially is enjoying the new pace, performing well consistently the past maps. EUnited look to have elevated their skill ceiling and are quickly showing that they belong in event finals.
2 EZ FOR @aBeZy!
@eUnitedgg up 2-0 on @UYU after the round 11 S&D win. https://t.co/NKHQSgV6Gh #CWLPS4 pic.twitter.com/biHDEzFTal
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) March 26, 2019
UYU climb a difficult mountain, facing off an explosive eUnited. The squad, for the most part, doesn’t look bad. Unfortunately, they don’t simply have the pieces fine-tuned enough to contend with top teams. Saul “Parzelion” Masse-Siguenza remains a shining beacon, but the team as a whole simply fail to win the trade balance. UYU play the game fundamentally correct, but watching them really begs for generally more production from players.
MVP of the series: Chris “Simp” Lehr
Once again, Simp proves that eUnited won rostermania. While he said he proved average in respawns yesterday, he completely makes up for it today. Not only does he put up numbers, but he almost always wins his entry 1v1s. He fits perfectly with already star player Tyler “aBeZy” Pharris, potentially becoming the best SMG duo in the game.
Luminosity Gaming vs. Excelerate Gaming
Series scoreline: 3 – 2 Luminosity Gaming
- Hardpoint (Frequency): 250 – 159 (Luminosity Gaming)
- Search and Destroy (Payload): 6 – 3 (Excelerate Gaming)
- Control (Gridlock): 3 – 0 (Luminosity Gaming)
- Hardpoint (Arsenal): 250 – 180 (Excelerate Gaming)
- Search and Destroy (Gridlock): 6 – 2 (Luminosity Gaming)
Luminosity Gaming picked it back up despite a tough loss to Team Envy. The team did confirm that they have been lacking in practice the past week. This explains their lack of coordinated pacing at times on the map. Despite that, Luminosity still looked strong, able to close out maps solely off gunskill. This is what we expect out of the squad, but from different players. Ever since CWL Fort Worth, support players Josiah “Slacked” Berry and Nicholas “Classic” DiCostanzo have been performing consistently. This only helps the always amazing MVP Peirce “Gunless” Hillman to control the pace of maps.
The @Slacked slam brings home the 3-0 Control for @Luminosity. 💥
LG 2-1 on @ExcelerateGG: https://t.co/NKHQSgV6Gh #CWLPS4 pic.twitter.com/n8EHC7Bgv8
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) March 26, 2019
Excelerate Gaming are on the edge of becoming a strong team. The squad definitely has a surge of life since the roster shakeup. They play fundamentally correct along with players capable of going off. Unfortunately, aside from AR slayer Carson “Brack” Newberry, the rest of the squad don’t produce enough to put the team in a good position. Most of their victories depend on capitalizing on the opponent mistakes, rather than their own strengths. Someone on the squad has to step up, and there are players present capable of doing so.
MVP of the series: Josiah “Slacked” Berry
Despite wonderful performance from Gunless as always, Slacked’s consistent play has to be commended. Not only is he consistent, but he has been well above average the past month. He always is playing fundamentally correct while setting up his team. With the underperformance of his squad’s other stars, Slacked has definitely stepped up.
Team Envy vs. Red Reserve
Series scoreline: 3 – 2 Team Envy
- Hardpoint (Hacienda): 250 – 222 (Red Reserve)
- Search and Destroy (Gridlock): 6 – 3 (Team Envy)
- Control (Gridlock): 3 – 2 (Team Envy)
- Hardpoint (Frequency): 250 – 204 (Red Reserve)
- Search and Destroy (Hacienda): 6 – 2 (Team Envy)
Team Envy are finally closing out their map five for the series win. There’s a saying that “SnDs win you series,” and Envy are really proving it. The squad is tactically sound, which is to be expected with coach Embry “Bevils” Bevil on board. The biggest change this series is both Adam “Assault” Garcia and Patrick “ACHES” Price’s performance. Finally, these two have a presence in maps which really helps their slayers. Unfortunately, we should expect some sort of drop off as they haven’t been the most consistent players.
.@ACHES goes feeding in the @ScufGaming Play of the Game!@Envy win the S&D 6-3 to tie the series vs @RedReserve at 1-1. https://t.co/NKHQSgV6Gh #CWLPS4 pic.twitter.com/FkxSxZldSi
— Call of Duty League (@CODLeague) March 27, 2019
It’s trouble in paradise for Red Reserve. Despite a big win yesterday, the squad has fallen back into previous form. Yesterday’s star Ben “Bance” Bance underperformed akin to his showing in the first two weeks of the Pro League. While the team’s respawn game was strong, they were completely read in the SnDs. Red Reserve tried to make creative plays but keep getting shut down. With Team Envy countering their plays, Red Reserve simply played reactionary which did not work out for them.
MVP of the series: Patrick “ACHES” Price
While Team Envy’s star player Huke “Huke Garland consistently puts up numbers, the change this series was team captain ACHES. In this series and last, he has carried his weight in respawn and has been impactful in the SnDs. ACHES doing his job well in this game mode simply makes the job much easier for the rest of the team.
